For at least the last decade, tennis has largely been dominated by the same five players. In men’s tennis, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are collectively known as “The Big Three.” Between the three of them, they have won most of the major championships of the last 20 years.
In women’s tennis, Venus and Serena Williams have dominated the game. Though they have spent less time at No. 1 collectively than the Big Three, they have had a bigger impact on how the game is played. They are credited with introducing a more power-driven element to women’s tennis.
These five are all still powerful players but time doesn’t stop, even for elite athletes. Djokovic is the youngest at 35 and Venus Williams is the oldest at 41. None of them seem ready to retire, though Nadal and Federer have been picking up injuries more often than usual and could be ready to phase out.
This is the perfect time for young, up-and-coming tennis stars to make their mark. The stranglehold that the older generation of stars has is loosening and weakening, allowing younger players a chance to win more major tournaments.
It also is making the sport more exciting for spectators and bettors – watching and betting on a sport where the winner will most likely be one of the same five players gets a little old after a while.
In fact, with Federer and the Williams sisters not competing at Wimbledon this year, now is a great time to give betting on tennis a try. Using an online sportsbook can even make the process simpler. In addition, many offer welcome bonuses, including deposit matching.
If you’re excited about the potential shake-up in the tennis world but aren’t sure who has what it takes to make a name for themselves, we’re here to help. Here are five of the top young players who you should keep an eye on.
Carlos Alcaraz
At only 19 – Carlos Alcaraz is one of the youngest players in the ATP top 100 players. The Spanish player is currently ranked No. 7 after making it to the quarterfinals at the French Open this year – he is expected to be competing at Wimbledon this summer and has the potential to make it all the way to the final.
He currently holds three “youngest player” records, all achieved in 2022. He is the youngest player to win the Rio Open, the youngest player to win the Miami Open and the youngest player to win the Madrid Open. That’s quite an achievement.
He is a talented all-round player, with an aggressive baseline playing style. His forehand is his dominant shot and the one that is the most accurate. Unlike some young players who struggle to adapt to surfaces other than what they started training on, he has demonstrated equal skill across grass and clay.
Félix Auger-Aliassime
Félix Auger-Aliassime is currently the ATP ranked No. 9 player and the second youngest in the top 10. The 21-year-old Canadian’s career has begun to take off since 2021. That year, he made it to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and the semifinals at the US Open.
He has been able to hold his own against some of the biggest names in the game. He beat Andy Murray in Rotterdam this year and Roger Federer at Halle last year. He also came out the winner when he faced Alcaraz at the US Open last year. The handsome bi-racial fan favorite also extended world no. 1 Novak Djokovic to a hard fought 57 67 scoreline at the Rome quarterfinals this year.
Some young stars burst onto the scene while others take time to develop into champions. Auger-Aliassime has the potential to develop into a truly elite player.
Jannik Sinner
Though currently ranked No. 12 by the ATP, Italian player Jannik Sinner was previously ranked No. 9 and seems poised to rise through the standings once more. The 20-year-old has certainly begun his career on the right foot – in 2020, he became the youngest player since Djokovic to win five titles.
He made it to the quarterfinals of the 2020 French Open and the quarterfinals of the 2022 Australian Open. He is well placed for Wimbledon this year, especially considering that he is able to achieve some of the highest levels of topspin of any player in the ATP.
Sinner is considered an incredibly balanced and agile player. His coach has credited Sinner’s background as a skier with giving him an ability to move around the court in a more fluid manner than many of his competitors.
Iga Swiatek
While some of the other young players on this list are still working their way to the top, Iga Swiatek has already arrived. The 21-year-old Polish player is currently the WTA No. 1 and more than 4,000 points clear of her next closest rival. That sort of dominance at such a young age suggests she’ll go very far.
Swiatek has started her career off with a number of impressive records. When she became the champion at the 2020 French Open, she was both the youngest player to win it since 2004 and the first player from Poland to win a Grand Slam. She repeated the victory this year.
She is a highly aggressive player and excels on clay. She averages 103 mph on her serves and is one of the fastest female players. Her backhand speeds actually rival those of some of the fastest male players. The winner of 35 consecutive WTA singles matches, Swiatek’s sensational career will be one to watch with interest as the sky is the limit to what she can accomplish on the tennis court.
Coco Gauff
At only 18, American Coco Gauff is the youngest player in the WTA’s top 100 women’s singles players. Ranked No. 13, she is quickly working her way towards the top. She beat Martina Trevisan in the French Open semifinals this year, though she was unable to outpace Swiatek in the final.
Her doubles ranking is even more impressive. She sits at No. 5 in women’s doubles, thanks in part to a win over Serena Williams at Wimbledon in 2019. With so much success at such a young age – including three Grand Slam finals so far (two in doubles US Open, French Open, one in singles French Open), Gauff appears to be destined for greatness.
Carlos Alcaraz · Coco Gauff · Felix Auger-Aliassime · Iga Swiatek · Jacob Sinner · Wimbledon
