Things to watch in 2025: Alcaraz seeks history, Fonseca leads the #NextGenATP | ATP Tour

Carlos Alcaraz

Things to watch in 2025: Alcaraz seeks history, Fonseca leads #NextGenATP

Tien and Mensik will be #NextGenATP figures with prominence

December 23, 2024

Before the new season begins, ATPTour.com reviews key details to follow in 2025. Yesterday we highlighted the figures of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic. Today, in Part 2, we focus on stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev.

Alcaraz seeks more history and an intense rivalry with Sinner
If Alcaraz lifts his first Australian Open title, the Spaniard will become the last player to win the title. Career Grand Slamcollecting all four Grand Slam trophies in his career. As No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings, the Murcian will try to return to the top of the circuit. In addition, he will opt to sign a triplet in both Indian Wells and Wimbledon in 2025.

The new season promises to offer spectacular duels between Alcaraz and his great rival Sinner. The Spaniard dominated the Italian 3-0 in 2024, establishing a 6-4 overall lead in his Lexus ATP Head2Head history. They both shared the four majors of the season, with Alcaraz triumphs at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. The Murcian became the sixth man in the Open Era to sign that milestone, following in the footsteps of Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

With three consecutive season closings in the Top 3, Alcaraz will begin the year prepared to compete for the biggest titles.

Fonseca leads a #NextGenATP group hungry for success
One of the most exciting aspects of each season is discovering new stars. Just a few days ago, at just 18 years old, Joao Fonseca won the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. Alcaraz and Sinner are the only two players who had won that tournament at 18 years old.

Jakub Mensik (19) was named Breakthrough of the Year after a season in which he reached his first ATP Tour final, closed the year in the Top 50 of the PIF ATP Rankings and qualified for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. Mensik will try to return to Jeddah in 2025.

Other figures under 21 years of age are Shang Juncheng, Learner Tien, Nishesh Basavareddy and Martín Landaluce. Shang lifted his first ATP Tour title in Chendgu in the 2024 season. Tien became the fourth American to win three ATP Challenger Tour titles before turning 19, following the example of Taylot Fritz, Andy Roddick and Sam Querrey. The left-hander also made his way to the final in Jeddah.

Medvedev’s mission
Medvedev has openly acknowledged his dislike of clay and since winning his first title on that surface – Rome in 2023 – he has been in search of his 21st ATP Tour crown.

The world No. 5 reached two finals in 2024 (Australian Open, Indian Wells) and will begin the new season looking forward to dressing as a champion again. Medvedev has reached the Australian Open final in three of the last four years. Will 2025 be the time to crown Melbourne and close the title drought in the first month of the year?

Despite not lifting a trophy in 2024, Medvedev had a season full of consistency, qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals for the sixth consecutive year.

Breaking into Grand Slam?
Top 10 figures like Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz and Casper Ruud know what it’s like to be one step away from winning a Grand Slam. In the new season, the possibility of completing that milestone will be on the table. Ruud has reached three Grand Slam finals while Zverev has been runner-up twice. Fritz reached the final in New York in 2024.

Zverev, No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings, amassed a personal record of 69 victories in 2024, only surpassed by Sinner. The German lifted ATP Masters 1000 titles in Rome and Paris-Bercy, sealing his biggest successes since a serious ankle injury in 2022. Zverev’s two Grand Slam finals (US Open 2020, Roland Garros 2024) ended with heavy defeats in five sleeves.

United States populates the Top 25 and beyond
American tennis has established its dominance in the noble zone of the PIF ATP Rankings. Five Americans begin the season in the Top 25, led by world No. 4 Fritz. Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton and Sebastian Korda (out of competition since the US Open due to an elbow injury) complete that group.

Alex Michelsen (20) is the youngest American in the Top 50, and promises to be a figure to follow along with fellow Californians Brandon Nakashima, champion of the Next Gen ATP Finals present by PIF 2022, and Tien, recent finalist in Jeddah. Nishesh Basavareddy (19) also competed in Jeddah after a stellar season on the ATP Challenger Tour in which he recorded a record of 41-13 with two titles in the category.