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The WTA and the ATP both have a potential superstar breaking through at the same time which could be amazing for tennis

Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images
Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images
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The world of tennis has enjoyed some new names rising to the top of both the men’s and women’s games recently.

An era of dominance by the ‘big three’ on the ATP Tour is nearing an end, as two new stars look to have taken their place.

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic won a combined 66 Major titles during their careers, numbers that may well never be topped.

Laver Cup 2022 - Day One
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images for Laver Cup

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will give it their all, however, and have already picked up seven Grand Slams between them at 23 and 21 years of age.

On the WTA Tour, two stars have risen above the rest as the women’s game searches for a fitting replacement for one of the greatest players of all time.

When Serena Williams retired from tennis in 2022, she did so as a 23-time Major champion, the most of any female player in the Open Era.

2022 US Open - Day 5
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka have won eight Major titles since then as they look to match her legacy.

While Sinner, Alcaraz, Swiatek, and Sabalenka all have the potential to live up to the greatness of their predecessors, it could well be two even younger players, that truly break out as tennis’ next ‘superstars.’

Mirra Andreeva and Joao Fonseca could break through as the next tennis ‘superstars’

Tennis fans around the world have grown excited as two youngsters continue to impress in 2025.

At just 17, Mirra Andreeva already has a wealth of experience on the WTA Tour, securing victories over both Sabalenka and Swiatek.

The Russian star reached the semi-finals of last year’s French Open, beating Sabalenka in the last eight before coming up short against Jasmine Paolini.

2024 French Open - Day 11
Photo by Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

This week, Andreeva has impressed at the Dubai Tennis Championships, securing two wins over former Major champions.

The 17-year-old beat Swiatek in the quarters before knocking out Elena Rybakina to become the youngest-ever WTA 1000 finalist.

Battling through in three tight sets, Andreeva won her sixth match against a top-ten opponent, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

The result has seen her shoot up to 11th in the ‘Live’ WTA rankings, as she remains the only teenager ranked inside the world’s top 100.

RankNameAgePoints
7Elena Rybakina254,328
8Qinwen Zheng223,780
9Emma Navarro233,704
10Paula Badosa273,698
11Mirra Andreeva173,370
12Daria Kasatkina273,116
13Danielle Collins312,877
14Diana Shnaider202,853
15Karolina Muchova282,734
Snapshot of the Live WTA rankings

18-year-old Joao Fonseca has enjoyed a stellar start to his 2025 campaign, producing several stunning results.

Fonseca beat Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open, shocking the top-ten star in straight sets down under.

2025 Australian Open - Day 3
Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Soon after, the Brazilian returned to his native South America, where he embarked on a sensational run to the Argentina Open title.

Coming through in three deciding sets, the world number 68 proved his mental and physical toughness in Buenos Aires.

Facing off against home favorite Francisco Cerundolo in the final, Fonseca lifted his first ATP Tour title with a hard-fought straight-sets victory.

How do Mirra Andreeva and Joao Fonseca compare to tennis legends at 17 and 18 years old?

At 17-years-old Andreeva looks well on course to achieve great things in her career, but how does she compare to one of the greatest to ever pick up a racket in the women’s game at the same age?

Days before turning 18, Williams picked up her first Major title at the 1999 US Open, beating Martina Hingis, 6-3, 7-6 in the final.

US Open Tennis 1999
Photo by Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images

The Russian won’t be able to match Williams in that area as the French Open kicks off after her 18th birthday, but she can still win several titles as she looks to close the gap.

PlayerBest Grand Slam performanceCareer-high rankingBest WTA 1000 performanceWTA titles
Serena Williams (17)W – 1999 US Open4W – 1999 Indian Wells4
Mirra AndreevaSF – 2024 French Open11*F – 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships*1
Comparing Mirra Andreeva and Serena Williams at 17 years old

Fonseca has also made a strong start as he competes with the ‘big three’ who achieved varying levels of success during their younger years.

TENNIS-BRA-ATP-RIO-OPEN
Photo by MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images
PlayerBest Grand Slam performanceCareer-high rankingBest Masters 1000 performanceATP titles
Rafael Nadal (18) 4R – 2005 Australian Open5W – Monte Carlo Masters, Italian Open6
Roger Federer (18)4R – French Open392R – 2000 Miami Open0
Novak Djokovic (18)3R – 2005 Wimbledon, 2005 US Open633R – 2005 Paris Masters0
Joao Fonseca2R – 2025 Australian Open682R – 2024 Madrid Open1
Comparing Mirra Andreeva and Serena Williams at 17 years old

Neither Federer nor Djokovic had won an ATP title when they turned 19, as Fonseca already looks to have the edge over two of the sport’s greatest stars.

The Brazilian doesn’t turn 19 until August, as Fonseca could well storm further clear of the Swiss and Serbian stars as he chases down Nadal.

Many fans are already inserting Fonseca into conversations of a ‘new big three’ alongside Alcaraz and Sinner, as the trio are predicted to dominate tennis for years to come.

Both Andreeva and Fonseca will shoot for Grand Slam glory at the French Open, which begins on Sunday, May 25.