The 2025 Tennis Year in Review

Take a breath, the 2025 tennis season is done and dusted.

The 2025 Cincinnati Open was the perfect microcosm, encapsulating a campaign that served up gladiatorial performances, never-say-die battles and storylines fitting of the big screen.

Terence Atmane, armed with his Pokémon cards, became a household name. World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and Emma Raducanu became embroiled in a ‘match of the year’ contender and Iga Swiatek dazzled with her high-octane tennis to lift the trophy at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Carlos Alcaraz similarly turned into a human highlight reel and was the last man standing in Cincinnati.

Now, let’s attempt to take a look back at an action-packed 2025.

On the ATP calendar, the buzzword all year long was ‘Sincaraz’ and we were lucky to witness the ‘Big 2’ of men’s tennis blaze into the Cincinnati final.

Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz rubber stamped their dominance for a second consecutive season when this generational combination split all four Grand Slam titles between them.

Concerning ‘Team Alcaraz,’ the smiling assassin edged his rival in the silverware showdowns of two Grand Slam finals at Roland-Garros and the US Open, as well as the finals of Rome and Cincinnati. The 22-year-old regained the year-end No.1 ranking too courtesy of a 71-9 match record and a mind-boggling eight titles.

Was it a match of the year? Undoubtedly. Plenty of pundits hailed it one of the greatest of all time. Of course, this was the ‘Sincaraz’ Roland-Garros final, which turned Court Philippe-Chatrier into a colosseum across five hours and 29 minutes. Alcaraz somehow dissolved a two-set deficit and three championship points for a ‘Hall of Fame’ 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6[10-2] triumph.

Think it’s hyperbole? Take it away Novak Djokovic. “I entered a phase of admiration… There are maybe four or five matches in my life where I watched and said to myself ‘wow’. It was an astronomical level of tennis.”

For ‘Team Sinner,’ there was immense pride in the way the Italian bounced back from that Parisian heartbreak. Just 35 days later, the 24-year-old gained revenge on his rival in the Wimbledon final with a ruthless display from a set down on Centre Court.

Sinner’s Wimbledon win, alongside major glory in Melbourne, was complimented by an exhilarating final stretch to his season. The world No.2 won four of his last five tournaments, culminating in posting 7-6(4), 7-5 versus Alcaraz to secure the prestigious ATP Finals trophy in Turin.

The ‘Big 3’ of Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer took the term ‘rivalry’ to a different stratosphere. With their own injection of youth, mutual admiration and astonishing athleticism, ‘Sincaraz’ are offering up their own twist.

The WTA storyboard was equally compelling with a blended cast of established stars and rapidly improving prodigies.

Let’s take the major stage. There were four different Grand Slam champions, a quartet brimming with quality and inspiring performances.

Madison Keys has always had the armory and eight years after her 2017 US Open final devastation, the American fulfilled her potential in scintillating style at the Australian Open.

It was the ultimate story of perseverance and banishing doubts, saving match-point in a 5-7, 6-1, 7-6[10-8] epic across the net from Swiatek in the semi-finals, before facing two-time defending champion Sabalenka to clinch the title on Rod Laver Arena, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. No. 2 and No. 1 downed Down Under.

Back to Roland-Garros and it was 2023 Cincinnati Open champion Coco Gauff who earned a second Grand Slam singles title. All her grit, all her champion instincts were required to reel in Sabalenka 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4. It’s very easy to forget this global superstar is just 21-years-old; every time Coco is counted out, she comes up gold.

Swiatek’s three-year reign at Roland-Garros was halted at the semi-final hurdle by a certain Sabalenka. Well, like every all-time great, Swiatek recalibrated and thrived on her least-favored surface: grass. Over to immaculate lawns of The All England Club and Swiatek stunned herself by propelling to Wimbledon glory.

The last two matches in particular illuminated the Pole’s electric play. 6-2, 6-0 over the resurgent Belinda Bencic, then 6-0, 6-0 in a merciless final against Amanda Anisimova launched Swiatek to a sixth Grand Slam title, onto the same tally as her fellow Cincinnati champion Alcaraz.

Runner up twice, then Wimbledon semifinals – it was clear Sabalenka was determined to alter that Grand Slam narrative heading into New York. The ultra-consistent world No.1 retained her US Open crown with a 6-3, 7-6(3) scoreline against Anisimova. Nine finals, four key titles – despite the earlier major disappointment, Sabalenka proved why she has the No. 1 next to her name.

Just like Sabalenka’s supreme major consistency, Djokovic reached the latter stages across the Grand Slam gauntlet, hitting the semi-finals at all four, but couldn’t quite conjure up an unprecedented No. 25.

However, the evergreen 38-year-old did collect his 100th career title with victory in Geneva (and 101st in Athens). Djokovic, the 2023 Cincinnati Open champion, is adamant he’ll wrestle with ‘Sincaraz’ and co next year. Over the past two decades we’ve learned to never doubt Novak.

Speaking of legendary longevity, it was incredibly inspirational to see seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams beaming with joy back on court at both the Cincinnati Open and US Open. Venus has also indicated she’ll compete in 2026. Watch this space!

Let’s take a look at a collection of other storylines which deserve their flowers, all the applause.

Tatjana Maria, winning at Queen’s Club in London with her two young children courtside, provided a true feelgood triumph. On motherhood, Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Bencic returned from maternity leave to catapult from world No. 489 to finish at No. 11. Now that is a comeback.

In terms of feelgood factor, nothing comes close to the Shanghai Masters and Valentin Vacherot’s family-themed miracle.

Ranked No. 204 and the ninth alternate for qualifying, Vacherot eventually battled into the main draw and truly grasped his chance, beating the likes of Djokovic along the way. It gets even better. The 27-year-old duelled with his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the final and completed the Hollywood fairytale to become the first Monegasque player to win an ATP title. The trophy ceremony had hugs, tears, cramping, you name it.

Lois Boisson conjured up another spectacular ‘outsider’ run on home terre battue. The French wild card marked a Grand Slam debut by soaring into the Roland-Garros semi-finals.

There are almost too many moments to delve into.

Amanda Anisimova was competing in Wimbledon qualifying in 2024, yet this year, the American competed in two major finals, lifted two WTA 1000 titles and consequently earned a career-high world No.4 ranking. Take a bow, Amanda.

Elena Rybakina reminded the pack of her elite skills, snatching away WTA Finals glory from Sabalenka in a statement 6-3, 7-6(0) final. Earlier in the campaign Mirra Andreeva collected back-to-back WTA 1000 trophies in Dubai and Indian Wells. Across to Rome and Jasmine Paolini, Cincinnati’s runner-up, won on home clay to spark jubilant scenes.

Canadian teenage sensation Victoria Mboko capped a breakout season with a WTA 1000 crown in Montreal and then managed to crack the Top 20.

The ATP young guns have been firing too. Take the ‘Sunshine Swing’ with Jack Draper (Indian Wells) and Jakub Mensik (Miami) striking Masters 1000 glory.

Flavio Cobolli, Alexandra Eala, Joao Fonseca, Maya Joint, Iva Jovic, Clara Tauson and Learner Tien are names that popped up frequently on these 12 flips of the calendar. Their success portrayed that the talent pool is rich below the established guard.

In national colors, it was very much a case of the vertical tricolor of green, white and red. Italy retained its Billie Jean King title, courtesy of Paolini and Elisabetta Cocciaretto’s heroics, then made it a Davis Cup three-peat, spearheaded by Matteo Berrettini and Cobolli.

And breathe. That’s a wrap. We go again in a few weeks.