The new tennis season is just around the corner, so our expert team of writers at The Tennis Gazette assert their bold predictions for 2025 with lots of upsets on the cards.
Last year was a big one for the likes of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz from the ATP Tour plus Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek from the WTA Tour. Yet Grand Slam glory is not always on offer, even for the players who swept up the silverware throughout a previous campaign.
Just ask Novak Djokovic how even some of tennis’ greats are sometimes forced to wait after the Serbian failed to win a single Grand Slam title in a season for the first time since 2017. It would be even more remarkable but possible if Djokovic yet faces another drought in 2025.
Will another high-profile star also call time on their career in 2025 after 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal retired in 2024? Or can a rising star steal the show and shoot up the world rankings while contending for Grand Slam success from nowhere in the 2025 season?
Only time will tell who sees out 2025 as the best in the business atop the ATP and WTA tour world rankings. So, with that in mind, our team of expert writers at The Tennis Gazette have offered their bold predictions for the 2025 season with many big names tipped to struggle…
Novak Djokovic will go two years without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2010
Liam Llewellyn: “This is very bold as Novak Djokovic has not gone two successive seasons without winning a Grand Slam since 2009 and 2010.
“Yet in 2025, he will get close to winning another major but will just fall short. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz look too strong at the majors right now, and some other youngsters such as Ben Shelton could also make a breakthrough.
“Another bold prediction for 2025 is that Danielle Collins will win a Grand Slam in her final year on tour. She has given herself another year after vowing to retire at the end of 2024.
“After a poor showing at the majors this year, the American will be rested and motivated, so Collins will produce some of her best tennis to win one of the majors in 2025.
“Contrastingly, Iga Swiatek will not win the French Open title in 2025. Though the Pole was extremely dominant on clay once again in 2024, there were signs of vulnerability.
“She sneaked past Aryna Sabalenka in a final set tiebreak to win a thrilling Madrid Open final, lost to Elena Rybakina in Stuttgart and was a game away from a second-round exit against Naomi Osaka at Roland Garros.
“Furthermore, Qinwen Zheng knocked Swiatek out of the 2024 Paris Olympics on her way to winning the gold medal. This will give players the confidence they can beat Swiatek on clay and as she finds her way under new coach Wim Fissette, she could be there for the taking.”
Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic to deny Carlos Alcaraz any Grand Slam titles in 2025
George Patten: “It might seem too crazy to say but there is a good chance that Carlos Alcaraz will fail to win a Grand Slam in 2025.
“The Spaniard has picked up four Major titles in his career to date but he may have to wait till 2026 for his fifth. A dominant Jannik Sinner and a resurgent Novak Djokovic could just prove a little too much for the 21-year-old next season.”
Off-court issues to stop ATP world No1 Jannik Sinner winning a Grand Slam title in 2025
Peter Lynch: “My crazy prediction for 2025? No Grand Slam titles for Jannik Sinner. Winning eight titles – including two Grand Slams – in 2024 was an extraordinary feat. But matters off the court may just have an impact on the world number one this time around.”
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