World Tennis: Rising Stars Facing Career-Changing Challenges in 2025

Attentive tennis fans may have noticed that the 2025 season is powered by the electric potential of emerging stars. While legends like Novak Djokovic are still around, some (very) young players have been establishing their names, with potentially bright futures ahead. However, the rise to stardom doesn’t come without some growing pains; regardless of their sheer talent, they still have many challenges to overcome.  

Bets Off the Racket

Tennis is one of the most-watched sports worldwide and an absolute leader when it comes to individual sports. Every year, high-stakes events like Roland Garros and the US Open attract over 1 billion fans around the world, and numbers keep rising. It’s hard to find a gambling site that doesn’t offer at least one tennis option. Platforms like Bety casino offer a wide variety of market and tennis-inspired casino games for diehard fans of the sport. 

In fact, Bety casino games are the perfect pastime between the hottest matches of the year. While this year is already halfway through, the calendar still promises a lot of adrenaline with the final slam, the US Open, which will take place between August and September in New York.

Top 6 Rising Stars in 2025 – And Their Challenges

Their names ignite stadiums, flip up the odds, and climb rankings at dizzying speeds. However, behind the breakthrough titles and highlight reels, the struggles continue for some of the most promising names of this generation. Learn more about the fastest-rising stars in 2025, their meteoric trajectories, and learning curves.  

Mirra Andreeva

The 17-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva is already one of the strongest players in the world. In fact, she has already reached the Top 15 list of the WTA ranking, a very impressive feat for a teenager. However, Andreeva’s rise to prominence has also brought bigger challenges, not to mention bigger expectations.  As Louisa Thomas remarks for The New Yorker, “Mirra Andreeva is just getting started.”

The increasing pressure to keep top-notch performance match after match can be taxing. Additionally, psychologically recovering from previous losses isn’t an easy task. Still, Andreeva’s continuous development since she joined professional tennis is unquestionable. Besides, young players like her have time on their side and, most probably, a shining career ahead.

Linda Nosková

Slightly older than Andreeva, Linda Nosková is 20 years old, boasting an enviable track record. The Czech player started her way to the top in 2021, scoring the Junior Roland Garros title. Last year, the major first title came in the Monterrey Open after pulling a pretty impressive performance in the Australian Open’s quarterfinals. 

Meanwhile, she has become the first teenager to beat the number 1 this century, reaching the 25th position in the WTA ranking. Still, killing Jesse James doesn’t make one Jesse James, and changing from junior to professional leagues can be tough. Tour schedules get increasingly demanding (both physically and mentally), and there is a need to adapt to new surfaces constantly.

Jakub Mensik

Jakub Mensik left junior competitions behind in 2022. It’s been enough time for the 19-year-old Czech player to reach 17th in the WTA ranking. Mensik won his first title at the last Miami Open, precisely over one of his biggest idols: Novak Djokovic. Before beating the legend, Jakub Mensik performed handsomely in other big events, like when he became the youngest Czech player to reach the final in Doha’s ATP last year. 

Despite his young age, Mensik has already faced injuries to his knees and elbows, pushing for a change in his serves. Specialists also agree that he needs to improve his forehand play and second serves, which tend to be inconsistent when under pressure. The Czech star has been showing tremendous psychological resilience. More importantly, he’s young and healthy enough to overcome his injuries fully and quickly and has more than enough talent to fix technical issues.

João Fonseca

The 18-year-old Brazilian is one of the newest sensations in the sport, having skyrocketed his ranking position over the past year. Fonseca began 2024 outside of the Top 700 but finished in the quarterfinals of the 2024 ATP 500 on his home turf, Rio de Janeiro. Earlier this year, João Fonseca defeated his first Top 10, Andrey Rublev. The first title came in the ATP Tour in Buenos Aires, placing Fonseca among the youngest players to win the competition. 

Despite his physical prowess, Fonseca struggles to control his nerves under high-pressure situations. His forehand play is powerful and promising but often fails to penetrate the defenses of more seasoned players. While his defensive skills still need to improve, he makes up for it with a bold and courageous gameplay that has already outpaced some of the best players in the world. 

Carlos Alcaraz

The 22-year-old Spaniard didn’t need too long to become one of the hottest names in the tennis world. Carlos Alcaraz debuted in professional competitions in 2018. Over this period, he baffled fans and secured crucial trophies. The first ATP title came in 2021, followed by the 2022 US Open and 2023 Wimbledon. In 2024, Alcaraz won Roland Garros and Wimbledon, equalling Nadal’s mark in 2008. 

Alcaraz is currently the number 2 in the ATP ranking, meaning that it’s not easy to find his weaknesses. Despite his superb technique and powerful gameplay, Alcaraz may eventually find it difficult to concentrate on the game, leading to lapses and, sometimes, erratic performances. When the Spaniard zooms out, inconsistent serves and rushed shots still may occur. Nevertheless, he’s already among the most feared opponents in professional tennis. 

Matchpoint

The landscape of professional tennis seems shaped by sharp young talents: Andreeva, Noskavá, Mensik, Fonseca, and Alcaraz, to name a few. Their precocious skills have baffled the crowds and upset the odds in some of the most demanding competitions in the sport. 

While the calendar approaches its climax with the US Open, some of the most promising players still have homework to do, both physically and psychologically. The road to the top is, by definition, a steep one, where muscles, nerves, and brains are equally important.