Paolini and Haddad Maia win the last two Heart Awards of the year

Paolini, who became the first Italian woman to win a Heart Award since Flavia Pennetta in 2015, beat strong competition from Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova and Britain’s Emma Raducanu to secure the Heart Award for the first time and win a cash prize of $10,000 to be donated to charity.

“Winning this award means a lot to me. “I am really happy, proud and honored and would like to thank all the people who decided to vote for me,” Paolini said. “I would like to donate the $10,000 to the nonprofit.” Make a wish Italy. I hope to be able to contribute, even in a small way, to their valuable work in fulfilling the wishes of seriously ill children.”

Haddad Maia is no stranger to coming in first place in the Heart Award voting. The Brazilian is only the second player to win three Heart Awards (Canadian Leylah Fernandez also won three during her time playing for her country), and she was overjoyed to be able to donate money to charity.

“This is a special award for me,” she explained. “It comes from the fans and changes a lot of people’s lives. It gives me extra energy to continue doing my best. Thank you to the ITF and everyone who voted and supported me at the Billie Jean King Cup.”

Just recently, Haddad Maia visited one of the previous charities she donated money to and headed to the Gaspar Garcia Center in Sao Paulo to see how the funds she won in 2022 helped the organization.