Watch Out for These Promising Stars in the World of Tennis
In tennis, most of the world is hyper-focused on the big three that have dominated thousands of courts worldwide. Namely, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have attained several and often back-to-back Grand Slam records.
However, everyone knows that the sport gives the best potential to the newer generations. While the big three are at the top of their careers, the young bloods are showing potential to be in the same place as them or even higher. In this article, we will look at the top rising athletes in tennis; read more below and check which of them is the most promising.
Holger Rune – Denmark
Holger Rune is one of the noticeable athletes from online sports betting boards to new media outlets. At just 20 years old, he is already ranked as the number 7 best tennis player in the world.
Just a year before, he had consecutively won ATP titles and came close to a grand slam win back in the French Open quarterfinals. This year, we expect him to play the extra mile at the year’s end and be on the top of the upcoming 2024 leagues.
He could just well be one of the fastest-rising tennis athletes out of the rest. Still, given his young stature, there’s so much we have yet to see from Holger, especially on his upcoming performances for the last remaining leg of the ATP World Championship.
Lorenzo Musetti – Italy
This Italian youngblood has shown promise of potential in 2021, which did not disappoint fans, especially on his 2022 run. At the ripe age of 21, Lorenzo Musetti has achieved two ATP titles and has risen to higher ranks against other older, more experienced professionals.
In 2023, we saw more from Musetti and finished with a solid 18th place in the leaderboards. Unfortunately, he could not get a second win at the Monte Carlo Masters but amassed an impressive number of fans from his satisfying win against Novak Djokovic.
And just like Rune, Musetti is a youngblood with much to prove for himself. He may not have the ability to get grand slams right now, but he has the potential for it in the coming years.
Jack Draper- England
The British have some of the most enthusiastic sports fans, and tennis is no exception. So, for young Jack Draper to come across professionals rapidly, the pressure to do great and surpass expectations can be tremendous.
Fortunately, Jack seems to fare well in this pressure as he has made his name known during the recent ATP tour. His sheer gameplay upped his rank several times, with the closest record being the 38th-best tennis player worldwide.
Although he has yet to grab some significant ATP titles, Draper has shown to have the right potential with the proper guidance and time. After all, he has played and won against players ranking in the top 25 numerous times. In short, give him time, and he’ll do great.
Zheng Qinwen- China
Qinwen was a decorated player at a young age. In 2022, she was regarded as the WTA Newcomer of the Year with her fast-paced rise to the global rankings. She was placing herself in the 25th place in 2022 and going up to the 24th by 2023.
Zheng Qinwen’s other noticeable feats are her reasonable attempts at last year’s Grand Slam tournaments. I earned a second-round finish in the Australian Open, a fourth-round finish at the French Open, and a third-round achievement at Wimbledon and the US Open.
Since starting her professional career, Zheng Qinwen has rapidly climbed the WTA ladders. Surprising many fans, she is deemed rich in potential and a powerhouse in her respective field.
Elena Rybakina- Kazakhstan
Elena Rybakina might just stand out in tennis. But remember, she is 24 and already making rounds as a high-ranking player in the singles category and the first Kazakhstani to reach the world’s top 10 best players.
Currently sitting as the 7th best, she is a well-respected individual not in her home country of Kazakhstan. As for her recent matches, she’s still defending her Wimbledon title and has reached new heights in the Australian Open and French Open quarterfinals.
Alycia Parks- USA
Park jump-started his career in 2022 as his breakout year and was regarded as skilled and agile as legendary Serena Williams. She broke speed serving records at her budding age and rapidly moved up the ranks between 2022 and 2023 into the WTA’s top 50.
She is currently ranked as the 56th-best player. But if she could keep up the momentum and use it as leverage, she might pierce through the top 50 and even get more accolades.
Final Thoughts
In their early twenties, these athletes have broken records and surpassed what the legends could ever achieve. With the young top-ranked players overtaking the seasoned veterans individually, time could only tell which players earned the title as the number 1 best.
Fortunately, the athletes mentioned are just a few of the hundreds more in the sport. And some may have even earned Grand Slam accolades that we don’t know yet. Nevertheless, stay tuned for more news and watch for these rising potentials.
