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

Paolini, who is the first Italian to win a Heart Award since Flavia Pennetta back in 2015, saw off stiff competition from Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova and Great Britain's Emma Raducanu to clinch a first Heart Award victory and win a cash prize of $10,000 to donate to charity.

“Winning this Award means a lot to me. I’m really happy, proud and honoured, and I would like to thank all the people that chose to vote for me," Paolini said. "I would like to donate the $10,000 to the non-profit organization Make a Wish Italia. I hope to be able to contribute, even in a small way, to their valuable work to fulfill the wishes of children suffering from serious diseases."

Haddad Maia is no stranger to finishing top of a Heart Award vote. The Brazilian is just the second player to win three Heart Awards (Canada's Leylah Fernandez has also picked up three in her time playing for her country) and she was overjoyed to be able to give money to charity.

"This is a special award for me," she explained. "It comes from the fans and it makes a difference to the lives of many people. It gives me extra energy to keep giving my best. Thanks ITF and for everybody who voted and supported me at the Billie Jean King Cup."

Only recently, Haddad Maia paid a visit to one of the previous charities where she has donated money, heading down to the Gaspar Garcia Center in Sao Paulo to see how the funds that she won in 2022 have helped the organisation.