I clearly keep in mind feeling sorry for Novak Djokovic in 2009 or 2010 after being additional defeated by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. He was clearly an excellent tennis participant, however he was clearly destined to play within the unsuitable occasions.
Federer and Nadal gained 25 out of 30 grand slam occasions between Wimbledon 2003 and the 2010 US Open, and Djokovic had caught considered one of 5 wanderings when he gained the Australian Open Crown in 2008, however apparently they weren’t planning on getting many different alternatives. In one other period, he might have in all probability gained 5 or ten slams!
It seems my numbers have been turned off a bit. Over time, Djokovic has mastered health, flexibility, backhand and serve, changing into the perfect match drawback solver the sport has ever seen. He gained three of the 4 slams in 2011, forcing Large 2 to Large 3.
It’s not totally clear how the long run unfolds. We get plenty of particulars proper, however we find it irresistible horribly to others. Federer and Nadal really mixed 42 SLAM titles, every crushing the earlier 14 data. Nevertheless, he did not count on each to zip to 24 after Djokovic discovered each enormous leads.
Plainly males’s video games at the moment are coming into two different main eras. Carlos Alcaraz and Janik Sinner break up the ultimate 12 slams and 9 slams. 83-6 To others. Within the slam it’s 2-2 one another and 37-1 towards the sphere. The 22-year-old sinner and Alkaraz are 22 years outdated, and it is easy to think about a world the place these two are every 30 years outdated and have greater than 15 slam titles earlier than bringing the 2030s nearer to Djokovic’s document.
However it’s thought that, like Federer and Nadal, the world of those two elites is being taken away, simply as Djokovic’s surge creeped up on us. Once more, the long run is extra ferocious than we have a tendency to consider. It is potential that the one future sinner or Alkaraz’s upheaval is a 16-year-old, however hardcore followers have even heard they’ve heard, however let’s discuss 10 gamers below the age of 23. How did they do for the most important identify ever? And what’s almost definitely to hinder them?
Present ATP rankings: 5 | Tennis Summary ELO Rankings: 11
File vs Alkaraz and the Sinner: 3-5 (1-2 of 2025)i File vs Prime 10 Opponents: 8-16 (2-3, 2025)
Draper is already having fun with one large surge. He was 53rd within the ATP rankings following his second exit on the Australian Open in 2024, however he gained two titles and reached the US Open semifinals (as anticipated, he misplaced to Sinner) and completed the yr within the prime 20. Now, regardless of lacking two months with accidents, he’s within the prime 5.
Draper has large serves, left-handed spins and nicely above common returns. Even higher, he would not have any apparent holes to fill his sport. He’s very nicely balanced, reaching the second week of three slams (solely his house nation slam, Wimbledon, escaped him), and his document for the Large 2 is sort of 0.500. If his physique have been to work collectively, he might compete in lots of slums over the subsequent few years. about it…
Most restrict: well being. He has suffered seven injured retirements previously three years, together with seven slams, and needed to withdraw earlier than the second spherical of the US. He fought shoulder and stomach accidents in 2023 and he missed many of the previous two months with hand points – it felt like he was “closing a bit” in his phrases. You’ll be able to solely go as much as Large 2 ranges when you can keep on the court docket and construct a rhythm.
Present ATP rankings: 6 | Tennis Summary Rating: 6
File vs Alkaraz and the Sinner: 1-9 (0-3, 2025)i File vs Prime 10 Opponents: 7-18 (2-6, 2025)
The previous Florida Gator needed to be taught to crush on tour after he entered the scene in 2023. And after the ups and downs in 2024, this yr was just about UPS. He reached a pair of finals, successful the primary 1000 stage occasion in Toronto, and he’s 12-0 within the slam towards a participant not named Sinner or Alkaraz. After beginning the twenty first within the ATP rankings, he got here in sixth place.
Most restrict: Return serve. One other giant left-hander, Shelton has made his consistency this yr, however he nonetheless would not perceive methods to beat Large 2. Since beating the sinner in Shanghai in late 2023, he has dropped 15 consecutive units to Italian, breaking simply 4 occasions over that span, dropping six virtually no competitors tiebreakers. That is the identical story for Alcaraz. He dropped 7 of the eight units and solely broke twice.
Statistics will rapidly lead you to the primary drawback. Among the many ATP Prime 50, he’s sixth in service factors, successful 67.3% this yr, proper between Draper (67.8%) and the huge Giovannim Petosi (68.7%). However he’s 47 days In response factors, we gained with 33.8%. Due to this fact, he performed for 41 tiebreakers this yr. Till the return sport improves, he isn’t outfitted to raised keep away from or really win tiebreaks towards sinners and Alkaraz.
Present ATP rankings: 11 | Tennis Summary Rating: 16
File vs Alkaraz and the Sinner: 4-5 (1-1 in 2025)i File vs Prime 10 Opponents: 20-24 (4-2, 2025)
He is similar age as Alcaraz and has 5 profession titles that he spent 20 months within the prime 10. Even when it pales compared to the Large 2, it is a stable rise. Rune raises the sport in large moments for nearly anybody. The ten gamers on this checklist have 10 wins within the Large 2, with almost half of them. He additionally performed and gained extra matches towards prime 10 competitions than anybody right here.
Most restrict: Win if you find yourself imagined to. “My drawback is not about beating these guys,” Rune informed Donald McRae in his current Guardian profile. “My drawback is constantly getting deeper into each match and getting the chance to play extra typically.” That is just about under that. Upon coming into the US Open, he was 6-3 towards prime 20 opponents in 2025 and 2-3 towards gamers ranked exterior the highest 100!
He pulled away from Alcaraz within the Barcelona ultimate, successful 7-6, 6-2, however misplaced to 137 Emiliona Nava and 143 Nicolas Jarry on the French Open and Wimbledon respectively. He began a consulting relationship with Andre Agassi this summer time, however his ceiling might be restricted till he can correctly consider each match. A win over the occasional large killer Boticvan des Andschulpe in straight units within the first spherical was begin.
Present ATP rankings: 16 | Tennis Summary Rating: 29
File vs Alkaraz and the Sinner: 0-0 i File vs Prime 10 Opponents: 8-5 (4-1, 2025)
In March, Mensic gained the occasion at 1000 ranges, beating Draper, Taylor Fritz and Djokovic to win the Miami title, incomes six tiebreakers within the course of. He adopted it quickly with a bang on a straight set by Madrid’s Ben Shelton. He has risen from 67th to sixteenth in final yr’s ATP rankings and won’t be 20 till subsequent week. He’s 6 toes 5 and provides extra aces than anybody within the ATP Prime 50 (16.3%), creating extra breakpoints than Shelton, Fritz and Rune. His benefits are immeasurable, however the poor Put up Miami efficiency led him to a bit below the radar.
Most restrict: Regulate in line with the adjustment. If you benefit from the success of a breakout, it attracts the eye of the tour. Everybody will take you somewhat extra critically and learn to get you down. One of the best gamers are those that adapt to it, however it might take a while.
Menshic is in its adjustment interval. Since his victory over Shelton, he ranked 5 opponents above thirty first, dropping 11 of the 13 units to 0-5. Total, he gained simply 12 matches in his first 10 post-Miami tournaments, however when the tour returned to his favourite floor, which is a tough court docket, he fell to 184th place qualifier Ugo Blanchet within the second spherical. He has loads of time to know issues, however the elevated ache is actual.
Present ATP rankings: 45 | Tennis Summary Rating: 26
File vs Alkaraz and the Sinner: 0-0 i File vs Prime 10 Opponents: 1-2, all 2025
One of the evil forehands within the sport, Fonseca began 2025 with 22 wins in 26 video games and seemed on the quick observe to success. He worn out Andrei Lubreviv within the Australian opening first spherical and beat No. 28 Francisco Cerundo to win his first ATP title in Buenos Aires in February. However like Mensik, Grind caught up with him a bit. He entered the US Open as he misplaced 10 of his final 18 matches, and since his victory at Lubrev, he’s 0-6 towards his prime 15 opponents.
Most restrict: He’s nonetheless finding out tactical textbooks. Fonseca is a spotlight participant of the social media period. Right here – check out the video entitled “10 Minute Ultrasound Joao Fonseca Forehands.”
One thing enjoyable. He’s hitting the winner of the forehand per level greater than Alkaraz, and his potentialities appear to be limitless for that. However he is nonetheless studying methods to really play tennis at this stage – he would not serve or volley, he involves the web a lot, doesn’t use sufficient varieties, mixes many drop photographs as many gamers have realized lately. He fell on a straight set to Thomas Machuk (who would have made this checklist if he have been somewhat youthful) within the second spherical on Wednesday. He develops additional, however now he is aware of that even the perfect forehand on the earth will solely take you to date.
Present ATP rankings: 10 | Tennis Summary Rating: 9
File vs Alkaraz and the Sinner: 1-9 (0-3, 2025)i File vs Prime 10 Opponents: 13-29 (5-5, 2025)
Musetti has an attractive, virtually old fashioned sport, combining a various forehand with a Federer model one-handed backhand. If he finds rhythm, it may be devastating. Anybody who noticed him filming two units from Djokovic on the 2021 French Open might show it. He reached the slam semi-finals in each grass and clay, and this yr’s spectacular clay court docket season pushed him to the seventh on the earth.
Most restrict: “Old style” additionally means “not fashionable.” Due to Nadal’s work with Federer, this tour taught me methods to deny one-handed backhand with tempo and top. At 6 feet-1, he has the simplest serve than anybody within the prime 10. He gained solely 64.4% of his service factors this yr.
The world’s elite gamers have additionally realized that Musetti shouldn’t be essentially essentially the most bodily participant. He retired or withdraws from six video games since 2022, and since dropping his first two units in 2021, Djokovic has been adjusted to win 21 of the 24 units. Alcaraz gained 17 of the 21 units and 4 of the 4 of the 4 units. The bounty and retro qualities that make watching Musetti pleasant, appear to have caught a moderately arduous ceiling into his sport.
Present ATP rankings: 20 | Tennis Summary Rating: twenty three
File vs Alkaraz and the Sinner: 0-3 (0-2 in 2025) i File vs Prime 10 Opponents: 7-11 (2-4, 2025)
Final yr, the titles have been in Bordeaux, Hamburg and Tokyo, and Phil surged to the highest 20 on the age of 20. Like Fonseca and others, he nonetheless has room to develop from a tactical perspective – he is 2-6 towards his prime 15 opponents this yr (and at all times 10-14). However along with his dynamic athletic capability and the required large serve and large forehand, he has all the plain instruments to go as much as the highest 10 or prime 5 sooner or later. He beats Zverev twice and almost beats Alcaraz at Monte Carlo this yr. He has sufficient focus to keep away from 10-1) towards non-Prime 70 gamers this yr. All he wants is his physique to cooperate.
Most restrict: His physique shouldn’t be cooperating. He retired within the fourth set of the third spherical match on the Australian Open and after successful 5 units of Jaume Munar within the second spherical of the French Open, he needed to withdraw with what turned out to be a stress fracture in his again. He has solely performed two video games since lacking each Wimbledon and the US Open. Meaning he’ll oddly end 2025 with out dropping three units in a match in any slam. Correct health will take him far, however that’s tough to realize at occasions.
Present ATP rankings: 50 | Tennis Summary Rating: 52
File vs Alkaraz and the Sinner: 0-0 i File vs Prime 10 Opponents: 4-3 (4-2, 2025)
If my very own group textual content is any indication, Tien is already a hipster favourite. He’s anti-Fonseca in some respects – he already appears to know many of the methods of commerce. Few individuals are glorious at altering the peak, velocity and depth of floor strokes. Of the gamers on this checklist, solely Mensic has a greater document towards prime 10 opponents. He defeated Danil Medvedev in 5 crushing units on the Australian Open and defeated Alexander Zverev in a straight set at Asapulco subsequent month, and he worn out each Shelton and Lublev in current months, and Djokovic briefly sucked the wind within the first spherical this week.
Most restrict: Energy and athletic capability. If Tien had it Any His sport’s energy in comparison with different prime gamers, he will certainly grow to be the highest 10 participant of the long run. However his limits are painfully apparent. He solely wins 61.5% of his service factors. That is the fifth lowest amongst prime 50 gamers, and typically his backhand is at greatest a impartial weapon. He’s good at implementing errors, however you’ll be able to’t at all times depend on it to hold you, and Tien would not create a easy level virtually sufficient for himself.
Present ATP rankings: 21 | Tennis Summary Rating: 15
File vs Alkaraz and the Sinner: 1-6 (1-2 of 2025)i File vs Prime 10 Opponents: 8-21 (3-5, 2025)
Lehecka will flip 24 in November. In different phrases, he solely barely certified for this checklist. However he has an awesome serve, his forehand is large and spiny. He’s prepared to serve, volley, diversify his techniques and beat large names. He defeated Nadal with clay, even when it was close to the tip of Nadal’s profession. He has additionally reached the second week of three slams, together with the 2023 Australia Open quarter.
Most restrict: The elusive subsequent step. At 6ft-1, he isn’t a commanding determine and his backhand is simply first rate, so which may restrict the ceiling. However at one level you ran out of likelihood to interrupt by and he was held again by each accidents – seven retirements, and some months on the sideline with stress fractures on his again in 2024 (not an unfamiliar subject on this checklist) – and missed the chance. This yr alone, he misplaced a tiebreaker within the choice set to Fritz of Toronto, Alexandre Muller of Rome and Fallet Monfils of Miami. He’s clearly 23 years outdated and never historic, however he cannot afford to drop numerous balls.
10. Giovanni Mpeshi Perricard (22)
Present ATP rankings: 37 | Tennis Summary Rating: 62
File vs Alkaraz and the Sinner: 0-1 (0-0 in 2024) i File vs Prime 10 Opponents: 0-4 (0-3, 2025)
When you’ve seen Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s match for even 5 minutes, you realize why he is on this checklist.
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Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard units Wimbledon data for a serve of 153 mph
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard will supply a 153 mph serve towards Taylor Fritz in his first spherical at Wimbledon.
The person was capable of completely erase the tennis ball, and his power allowed him to surge into the highest 40 simply six months after the 160s in April 2024. His rise has been stagnant final yr, however he’s solely 22 years outdated and his serve and forehand will present him with a major margin for error if he can solely strengthen his weakest hyperlink somewhat.
Most restrict: The worst return sport you’ll be able to think about. Final yr, solely Sinner and Fritz supplied MPETSHI or MPETSHI or greater than 89.7% of companies. Nevertheless, solely one of many prime 50 gamers has scored lower than 33.0% of his return factors in the identical span. 27.2%. He is solely damaged 8% of the time. In different phrases, it is virtually the one service that’s greater than the individuals he faces. Till he improves in that respect, he’s destined to perform solely as an annoying servebot that the final word champion should beat in a collection of early tiebreakers in a selected slam.
