2025 WTA High 10 Predictions
Ideas on Sabalenka, Gauff and the WTA Tour
It’s essentially the most wistful time of the yr for tennis followers– that second we sit up for the 2025 WTA High 10 predictions. As a present to you, I do one thing nearly no one else does: I preserve rating on myself. For professional tennis in 2024, I made some wonderful calls and a few actually unhealthy calls. Earlier than we unveil what I see in retailer for 2025, let’s see how I did this previous yr.
WTA Predictions: What I Received Right
I picked the WTA High 3 gamers on the planet accurately– simply not in the proper order. I’m happy with myself for that. I projected Coco Gauff as year-end #1, and he or she ended #3. On condition that so many individuals have been down on Gauff’s forehand and double faults, this was a powerful end for the American and a half-feather in my solar hat.
I had Swiatek #2. Nailed that. What I didn’t see coming: The ascending dominance of Aryna Sabalenka. The Belarusian energy participant brings the warmth and the enjoyment. After her emotionally tumultuous month of March, “Sabs practice” proved her psychological sport is second to none on this sport. (Jannik Sinner could be tied along with her.) She tamed the double fault beast and ball-spraying all on her personal– the best reward any participant may give herself.
Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina stay within the High 10– I used to be right. Different gamers I picked to complete High 10 had been within the subsequent 10, like Beatriz Haddad Maia, Jelena Ostapenko and Mirra Andreeva. Not too shabby.
A few of my different predictions had been bang-on. Just one was full swing-and-a-miss.
I mentioned, “The WTA will do a take care of Saudi Arabia as a result of it wants the cash.” The WTA Finals had been introduced for Riyadh, in addition to naming rights and different initiatives. Verify.
“The tour will announce incremental new cooperative initiatives with the ATP, a few of which might be a shock.” Verify, test, test. Along with the joint expanded Masters 1000s, the excursions will merge some key industrial pursuits. Additionally they agreed on new guidelines for late night time matches, tennis ball high quality evaluations and different odds and ends.
“Blissful information: A former Grand Slam champion will get pregnant.” Huge congrats to Petra Kvitova.
“Ashleigh Barty will contemplate a return to the WTA or take a run at golf– some form of aggressive outlet.” Incorrect. When am I going to start out truly listening to Ash Barty? Retirement from tennis is clearly what she needs, full cease.
“We received’t see any first-time Grand Slam Champions– everybody who wins one this yr will have already got a trophy within the case.” Ding, ding, ding! Someone give me a prize.
What I Received Fallacious
The primary misses concerned the leap of established gamers into the higher echelons of the WTA. Particularly Jasmine Paolini and Qinwen Zheng. These are two elite gamers with rainbows and pots of gold of their instant futures. I give myself a move on #10 Barbora Krejcikova as a result of I had accurately predicted the yr prior that she’d reemerge in singles. I used to be solely off by a matter of months.
Now to the great things…
2025 WTA High 10 Predictions
- Aryna Sabalenka
- Coco Gauff
- Jasmine Paolini
- Iga Swiatek
- Karolina Muchova
- Emma Navarro
- Qinwen Zheng
- Barbora Krejcikova
- Jessica Pegula
- Elena Rybakina
If Sabalenka can get by means of this yr with 2 Grand Slam Titles, something is feasible for her. Clay will nonetheless be her massive problem, however serve-friendly venues like Madrid are at all times accessible for Aryna. She’s a troublesome participant with the mindset to match.
I believe Gauff will make favorable adjustments along with her new coach Matt Daly, who focuses on grips. I can envision one thing alongside the strains of a choking-down on the serve grip to quell double faults. The forehand already seems improved.
Paolini has the all-court, all-surface sport that can stand the check of time. I might see her successful a Slam in 2025.
Iga continues to be Iga, however we’d see some slippage as she struggles to adapt to new forces within the sport. Her serve is healthier however nonetheless not what it might be. Clay stays her floor, and good luck beating her at Roland Garros.
Prediction: Muchova will keep wholesome and captivate the tennis world along with her multifaceted sport. I desperately need Roger Federer as her supercoach, however sadly I can not go so far as to foretell that. Roger that, please.
American Emma Navarro is a steely competitor with a defensive type much like Alex De Minaur and the flexibility to strike like Martina Navratilova. Upside for days.
Zheng is a phenomenal server and ball-striker. I see rating slippage solely as a result of I believe her chosen persona and the battles inside will change into extra difficult. The geopolitics involving China are by no means straightforward for a world-class athlete.
One in every of my favourite personalities, Krejcikova, with a strong forehand and psychological sport to match, ought to achieve momentum. Whenever you watch Barbora play, regulate how she returns towards the world’s finest servers. It’s top-notch.
I by no means know what to do with Pegula, however one senses she’ll be there. I think she hit a interval of exhaustion this previous season, however she by no means let on. She’s tenacious.
Elena Rybakina has been by means of the hearth and continues to be standing. I predict up-and-down moments as she continues to come back to phrases along with her well being points– bodily and psychological– of the previous few years. When she’s on, there’s no one higher.
Different predictions: Naomi Osaka will proceed to impress in bursts, however will probably be one other uneven yr. Which is completely fantastic. We followers will take the fireworks each time they arrive. Likewise, Emma Raducanu may even present indicators of brilliance, although inconsistently. I predict extra teaching adjustments forward in Emma’s camp– not precisely a daring stance by me. Mirra Andreeva will vie for and probably win no less than one Grand Slam. And at last, with additional cash from the Saudis, the WTA will lastly create a advertising marketing campaign with some creativity and aptitude that hits the proper tone.
Cheers to that, WTA followers.
