Caroline Wozniacki has become the first Danish player to win the International Tennis Federation's (ITF) World Champion award, even though she has never won a Grand Slam.
Spain's Rafael Nadal took the men's award for the second time after winning three of the year's four Grand Slam titles.
"To be listed with all the former ITF World Champions is something I am really proud of," the 20-year-old Wozniacki, who in October became the first Dane to be ranked number one in the world, said in a statement.
"I had a great year in 2010 and I'm training hard to have an even better year in 2011."
Wozniacki, who knocked 13-times Grand Slam champion Serena Williams from the top spot, was a model of consistency this season, winning six titles.
Nadal's award capped a remarkable year for the 24-year-old who won the French Open for a fifth time, Wimbledon for the second time and then became the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam when he won the US Open in September.
In doing so he regained the number one ranking from Roger Federer