The 2025 skilled tennis season has come to an in depth, and what a yr it was.
From the dominance of superstars Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, to the continued emergence of gamers like Amanda Anisimova and Ben Shelton and the return to the highest of Naomi Osaka, this season really had one thing for everybody.
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Alcaraz and Sinner all however ran the ATP — the pair cut up all 4 of the foremost titles — however there was significantly extra parity among the many elite girls of the WTA Tour. 4 totally different gamers — Madison Keys, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek and Sabalenka — received the Slams. And all year long, in each the ATP and the WTA, there have been a lot of shock victors and compelling storylines. All of it mixed to make one very memorable season.
Who deserves to take house the highest honors? ESPN’s Chris Evert, Sam Querrey and Pam Shriver voted on who must be named the ATP and WTA Gamers of the Yr. And we could not assist however bestow some extra titles on a few of our different (maybe barely less-quantifiable) favorites from the yr.
ATP Participant of the Yr: Carlos Alcaraz
The 2025 ATP season was outlined virtually completely by two males and their rivalry: Alcaraz and Sinner. And whereas these two set themselves other than everybody else — extra factors separate No. 2 Sinner from No. 3 Alexander Zverev (6,340) than distance Zverev from the 1,000th-ranked participant (5,145) on this planet — little or no differentiated the Massive Two from each other. Alcaraz received the French Open and the US Open and ended the yr at No. 1 for the second time in his profession, and Sinner was victorious on the Australian Open and Wimbledon and completed the yr with the title on the ATP Finals for the second consecutive season.
Actually, the margin was so miniscule, Evert mentioned she merely could not decide between them and declared it to be a tie. “I do not understand how you might decide one,” she mentioned.
However Querrey and Shriver (and this author) felt otherwise and finally gave the ever-so-slight edge to Alcaraz, who received six different titles this yr, together with three at Masters-1000 occasions. Alcaraz, who additionally leads the profession head-to-head, defeated Sinner in 4 of their six conferences in 2025.
“I used to be going to award co-ATP Gamers of the Yr to each Sinner and Alcaraz, however I really feel Sinner lacking some months due to the suspension and never ending because the year-end No. 1 pushed the scales in direction of Alcaraz,” mentioned Shriver.
Irrespective of when you consider Alcaraz or Sinner deserves this fully arbitrary distinction, one factor is for positive: They’re the most effective gamers on this planet and may proceed their collective brilliance in 2026.
Even their top-ranked friends appeared to have accepted that.
“They’ve performed at an extremely excessive stage for an prolonged time period,” world No. 7 Alex de Minaur mentioned about Sinner and Alcaraz forward of his semifinal match in opposition to Sinner on the ATP Finals. “We’re simply going to maintain on getting higher and look ahead to our alternative.
“Not less than I am hoping they don’t seem to be going to indicate up each single day of the yr, proper?”
WTA Participant of the Yr: Aryna Sabalenka
Whereas there was little drama on the ATP aspect, not less than in narrowing it down to 2, there have been a handful of girls who had been thought of for the title this yr. Not solely had been the majors received by 4 totally different gamers, Elena Rybakina closed out the yr with the title on the WTA Finals — and others received a number of 1000-level tournaments and contended at Slams.
However nonetheless, even with the equality on the prime of the WTA, one girl was barely forward of the remainder of the pack and was the unanimous decide for this award. After all, that was world No. 1 Sabalenka, who held the highest rating all season lengthy. She received the US Open, changing into the primary girl since Serena Williams over a decade in the past to repeat as champion, and in addition made it to the Australian and French Open finals and to the Wimbledon semifinal. To not point out, she received three different titles on the yr, together with two on the 1000 stage, and performed in a complete of 9 finals.
If Sabalenka was taking part in in a event, she was not only a contender, however a favourite for the title. Per Shriver, for all of these causes, “she is the clear participant of the yr.” And even her opponents heaped on the reward this yr.
“Clearly, she’s No. 1 and is totally able to taking part in unbelievable tennis, like she did in the present day,” Anisimova mentioned after the US Open closing. “I give her all of the credit score for that. I like her enormously; she works laborious, and that is why she’s right here.”
(Lengthy-awaited) Breakthrough second: Madison Keys, Australian Open
A prodigious expertise who turned professional as a 14-year-old, for a lot of the early portion of her profession, it appeared inevitable Keys would win a significant title. And she or he got here shut. She reached her first Slam semifinal in 2015 and was the runner-up on the 2017 US Open. However regardless of profitable 9 WTA titles and being a top-20 mainstay, she was unable to win when it mattered most.
Till this yr, that’s. Nearing her thirtieth birthday, Keys put collectively a fearless run for the ages on the Australian Open, defeating 5 seeded gamers, together with No. 2-ranked Swiatek within the semifinals and No. 1-ranked Sabalenka within the closing. Ultimately, Keys hoisted her first main trophy following an in depth three-set thriller — virtually 16 years after turning professional, and a decade after reaching her first semi.
Match of the yr: Alcaraz vs. Sinner, French Open closing
Was this even doubtful? The primary ever main closing between the 2 burgeoning rivals clocked in at 5 hours and 29 minutes, making it the longest French Open closing in historical past and the second longest at a significant. It additionally featured one of the crucial unbelievable comebacks of all time.
Sinner, taking part in in simply his second event again after serving his three-month suspension, received the marathon first sport in 12 minutes — after which largely cruised as he received the primary two units. With Sinner trying effectively on his option to his fourth Slam title, and first at Roland Garros, Alcaraz had different concepts.
That is when the magic occurred. Elevating his stage and feeding off the raucous crowd, Alcaraz compelled a fourth set after which fought off three championship factors on his option to a decider. Momentum continued to shift within the closing set — with the 2 buying and selling one highlight-worthy level after one other — earlier than Alcaraz received in a tiebreak for the 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) closing rating. It marked the second straight French Open trophy for Alcaraz, and his fifth main title, however greater than that, it cemented the legend of the Massive Two and the rivalry that appears to form the game for years to return.
Most unbelievable victory: Valentin Vacherot, Shanghai
Arriving to the Masters 1000-level occasion ranked No. 204 on this planet and because the ninth alternate for the qualifying draw, the 26-year-old — who had received only one match on the ATP Tour in his profession — wanted a miracle simply to have the ability to play within the event.
However following a slew of withdrawals, Vacherot made it into qualifying and wanted three units in each matches there to make the principle draw. Someway he discovered a method — after which did the unthinkable. He defeated one seeded participant after one other, together with Alexander Bublik within the second spherical, Holger Rune within the quarterfinals and Novak Djokovic within the semifinals. And if that wasn’t sufficient, he then confronted his cousin Arthur Rinderknech — then ranked No. 40 himself and hardly thought of a title contender earlier than the event acquired underway — in probably the most unlikely of finals. Vacherot finally received the household affair and have become the primary Monegasque participant to win an ATP title, in addition to the lowest-ranked Masters champion in historical past. After the ultimate, the tearful cousins embraced and shared type phrases throughout an emotional trophy ceremony.
“There needs to be one loser, however I believe there are two winners in the present day,” Vacherot mentioned on courtroom. “One household that received, and I believe for the game of tennis, the story is unreal.”
Following the fairy-tale victory, which greater than doubled his profession earnings, Vacherot surged up the rankings. Because of a quarterfinal run on the Paris Masters, Vacherot ends the season ranked at No. 31 and as a former unknown-turned-beloved determine within the sport.
Honorable point out: Victoria Mboko, Canadian Open
Ranked No. 85 on this planet and receiving a wild card for entry, the 18-year-old Canadian surprised the sector as she defeated 4 Slam champions en path to profitable the house 1000-level event. It marked her first WTA title, and her rating surged to No. 24. (She ended the season with one other title and a brand new career-high rating of No. 18.)
Star flip of the yr: Taylor Townsend, US Open
Townsend has lengthy been recognized to tennis followers for her expertise on the singles and doubles courts, in addition to her vivacious persona, however she put the world on discover together with her unbelievable play and equally exceptional poise on the US Open. Townsend, who reached the No. 1 doubles rating this yr for the primary time, had a powerful win over No. 29 seed Jelena Ostapenko within the second spherical — and a distraught Ostapenko aggressively confronted Townsend after the match saying she had “no class, no training.”
Townsend saved her cool throughout the alternate, and later mentioned she needed to verify her younger son can be pleased with her if he had been to see a video of it.
“I am very sturdy,” Townsend later informed reporters. “I am very proud as a Black girl being out right here representing myself and representing us and our tradition. I make it possible for I do all the pieces that I can to be the most effective illustration potential each time that I step on the courtroom and even off the courtroom.”
The interplay, and Townsend’s response to it, instantly went viral, making Townsend’s subsequent match in opposition to No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva a must-watch occasion. Townsend delivered, fully dismantling the teenage phenom in entrance of a passionate crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium. (Ostapenko later apologized for her phrases.)
Townsend later misplaced in a heartbreaking thriller within the fourth spherical to two-time main champion Barbora Krejcikova — and reached the doubles closing with Katerina Siniakova — however cemented her standing as a fan favourite. She has seemingly been in all places (from the morning discuss present circuit to vacationing with Osaka) since her run in New York.
Doubles groups of the yr: Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Money; Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend
Glasspool and Money, the top-two-ranked doubles gamers on this planet, reached an astounding 11 finals in 2025. They received seven titles, one among which was at Wimbledon — changing into the primary British duo to take action since 1936. Neither had ever received a significant earlier than, and even superior previous the quarterfinals.
The highest-two-ranked doubles gamers on this planet on the ladies’s aspect, Siniakova and Townsend continued their profitable partnership in 2025 and received their second Slam title collectively on the Australian Open. In addition they reached the ultimate on the US Open, the semifinals at Wimbledon and the ultimate on the year-end championships, and hoisted the trophy collectively on the 1000-level occasion in Dubai.
Honorable point out: Christian Harrison and Evan King
Getting into the season, neither Harrison, 31, nor King, 33, had ever received an ATP title, however that modified dramatically throughout their first yr collectively as a staff. This yr, they claimed three ATP titles, reached the semifinals on the French Open and have become the primary all-American duo to qualify for the year-end ATP Finals.
Comeback participant of the yr: Belinda Bencic
Maybe the best and most blatant award winner on this record, Bencic returned to aggressive tennis in October 2024 simply six months after giving delivery to her daughter Bella. Bencic, 28, performed completely ITF and 125-level occasions for the rest of the yr after which made her official comeback to the tour in the beginning of 2025.
It did not take her lengthy to get proper again into the swing of issues. Weeks into the season, she reached the fourth spherical on the Australian Open — and she or he adopted that up by clinching the title on the 500-level Abu Dhabi Open in February. By the tip of the season, she had recorded a semifinal look at Wimbledon — for the primary time in her profession — and had received one other title on the Pan Pacific Open in October. She began the yr ranked No. 489 and completed at No. 11.
Most improved: Amanda Anisimova
There are profession years, after which there may be what Anisimova did in 2025. A robust candidate for Participant of the Yr, in addition to breakthrough second and star flip, Anisimova greater than lived as much as the excessive expectations positioned on her as a junior. The 24-year-old American, who took an eight-month break from the game in 2023 for her psychological well being, received the then-biggest title of her profession on the 1000-level Qatar Open in February and cracked the highest 20 for the primary time.
However that was only the start. Anisimova discovered her stride on grass, reaching the ultimate at Queen’s Membership after which pulling off a memorable upset over Sabalenka within the Wimbledon semifinals and reaching her first main closing. She misplaced, in staggering trend, to Swiatek — however acquired her revenge on the US Open. And in New York, Anisimova reached the ultimate but once more. Whereas she did not win the trophy, her rating and profile continued to skyrocket. By yr’s finish, she had received one more 1000-level title on the China Open, certified for the WTA Finals for the primary time (the place she reached the semifinals) and now has a career-high rating of No. 4 on this planet. What a yr, certainly.
Honorable point out: Learner Tien
It is laborious to match to what Anisimova did, however Tien, 19, additionally had a monumental season. Ranked No. 121 on this planet, the American got here by means of qualifying to make his principal draw debut on the Australian Open — and what a debut it was. Within the second spherical, Tien upset former world No. 1 and 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, profitable the 10-point tiebreak within the fifth set. After defeating Corentin Moutet within the third spherical, Tien turned the youngest male participant to advance to the fourth spherical in Melbourne since Rafael Nadal in 2005.
Tien would go on to defeat Zverev on the 2025 Mexican Open, changing into the youngest American man to win in opposition to a top-three participant since 2001. Tien completed 2025 along with his first ATP title on the Moselle Open and closed the season with a brand new career-high rating of No. 28.
Most age-defying gamers this yr: Novak Djokovic and Venus Williams
Whereas not fairly on the untouchably dominant stage he as soon as was, Djokovic, 38, stays — with out query — the third-best male participant on this planet. Focusing most of his vitality on the majors, in hopes of attaining an elusive and record-breaking twenty fifth Slam title, Djokovic reached the semifinals in any respect 4 in 2025, however could not fairly work out the riddles which are Alcaraz and Sinner. Nonetheless, he received two titles this season, bringing his profession complete to an astounding 101. Whereas he has been candid about his profession winding down, and has admitted how laborious it’s to play the Massive Two, he needs to maintain taking part in in 2026.
After which, there’s Williams. At 45, the seven-time main singles champion joyfully — and competitively — made her return to tennis this yr on the Citi Open after a 16-month break that had sparked hypothesis of retirement. With a win over No. 35 Peyton Stearns within the opening spherical, Williams turned the oldest participant to win a tour-level singles match since Martina Navratilova in 2004. Williams went on to compete on the Cincinnati Open and on the US Open, the place she turned the oldest singles participant in the principle draw since 1981.
Williams misplaced within the first spherical in a fierce, three-set battle in opposition to No. 11 seed Karolina Muchova — however went on to have a magical quarterfinal run in doubles with companion Leylah Fernandez.
And, nonetheless unbelievable as it could appear, Williams is not completed but. Earlier this month it was introduced she had accepted a wild card to play in Auckland in January, marking her thirty third yr on tour as knowledgeable tennis participant.
If that is not a great omen for the 2026 tennis season, we do not know what’s.
