After the ATP Tour NextGen Finals at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium, it would be rather fitting to analyze the growing crop’s prospects for the following season. Here at Last Word on Tennis, we provide just that.
A look ahead to Next Year
Faltering Generation
During the ludicrously long era of Big 3 dominance, the tennis world searched for contenders to pass the baton onto. Daniil Medvedev, Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Alexander Zverev seemed the most likely to step into their shoes. Yet, in 2024, two years after Roger Federer hung up his racket (and much longer since he was competing for Grand Slams), with Rafael Nadal similarly following after an arduous year where he looked a shadow of his former self, the accumulated Majors of the aforementioned list stands at just two.
Thiem famously came from two sets behind to defeat Zverev at Flushing Meadows in 2020, meanwhile only Daniil Medvedev earned his glory by defeating one of the three tennis immortals, as he brushed aside Novak Djokovic in straight sets on the exact same court just twelve months later.
Truthfully, they have been bypassed. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz already look much more accomplished players, with six Grand Slams between them. Now the question becomes whether we are set to see a major shift throughout the rankings. Will the likes of Casper Ruud, Alex de Minaur, and Andrey Rublev keep their places just below the creme de la creme, or will they find their spots under threat?
Jack Draper
Admittedly, at 22 years old, Draper doesn’t have a whole lot more time of fitting the “NextGen” bracket. And thanks to various fitness and injury issues though, he is considerably less experienced than his peers of a similar age.
Last season, the Brit made some major steps in his development as a player. He lifted his first title at Stuggart, and reached the final of Queens, getting the better of Carlos Alcaraz en route. However, he showed that his talent is still raw, as just as the makings of a great grass court player seemed to be there, he exited to Cameron Norrie in the second round of Wimbledon. Later on he would make the semifinals of the US Open before running into World #1 Jannik Sinner.
His left-handed serve and monstrous ground strokes mean that when he hits form, anyone will find him hard to contain. The ceiling isn’t the issue at the moment; instead, he must work on improving his floor level.
Lorenzo Musetti
Likewise, the world #22 enjoyed a massive season of progress which saw him achieve an Olympic Bronze Medal. A mid-season purple patch that included that medal, a run to the final at Queens, plus a semifinal placing at Wimbledon was yet another positive story in the world of Italian tennis.
His highlight was easily a Wimbledon five sets victory over an in-form Taylor Fritz. He showed all the weapons of an established grass court player. To be able to back that up on the clay courts shows the required diversity in his game to reach the top.
A one-hander with an elegant slice, he can take the ball on the rise on grass just as easily as he can craft points on a high-bouncing clay court. He will certainly be looking to break into the top ten in 2025.
Arthur Fils
Still just a teenager, Fils holds the aura on court of an established pro. His broad shoulders, unwavering confidence and swashbuckling groundstrokes are a joy to watch. Perhaps it’s superficial stuff, or one could say the unmeasurable, but even at this stage of his career he has the feel of a future captain.
There are little holes to fill in his game, he already seems to be the package.
At the back end of the season, with brilliant performances against Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Holger Rune, and Ugo Humbert, he lifted the title in Tokyo, making a major statement.
The Others
Of course, these are just three names from a plethora of options. Holger Rune, Ben Shelton, Jakub Mensik, Alex Michelsen, and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard–among others–could very well have stellar 2025s, with such a depth of new talent there is so much excitement in the air. The tennis landscape will be enjoying a shake-up.
The Unknown Quantity
Of course, as always there will be new names who surface next season that promise excellence in the following years. It’s the cycle of sport, it’s what makes it so intriguing and just one of many storylines heading into 2025.
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
