With tennis legends Roger Federer, Andy Murray, and Rafael Nadal having retired, and Novak Djokovic showing signs of ageing, the sport is at a pivotal moment.
Players like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, and Daniil Medvedev are already champions of the game, but the next generation of players must continue to rise and challenge these current stars.
Tennis fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of fresh faces who can bring new energy, rivalries, and moments of brilliance to the sport, ensuring it continues to enthral audiences all over the world.
Here, we present to you our pick of five most exciting young tennis stars of the current men’s tennis circuit.
Arthur Fils | France, 20 years old
The French youngster is one of the most exciting players on the tour. Currently ranked World No. 20 in the men’s singles ATP Rankings, Fils has won three ATP Titles, with his first one arriving in Lyon in 2023. He won two ATP 500 titles in Hamburg and Tokyo in 2024 and has only gotten better as the season has progressed, having made it to Round 4 at Wimbledon and breaking into the Top 20 in the men’s singles ATP Rankings.
Fils has an intense and aggressive style of play with a strong serve and forehand. He identifies his style of play to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and also takes inspiration from countryman Gaël Monfils. He has also added to his game a touch of finesse with improved net play, drop shots, and volleys.
Since his breakthrough in 2023, Fils has improved his game and gained valuable experience. Going into the 2025 season, he’d be looking to improve his record in the Grand Slams and break into the Top 10.
Jakub Menšík | Czechia, 19 years old
This 19-year-old Czech teenage sensation is the youngest player ranked inside the Top 50 in the men’s singles ATP Rankings. He came into the spotlight after reaching the Junior Australian Open final in 2022, and even though he lost the match, it was very much visible to everyone that he was a special player in the making. Cut to 2024, and Menšík has broken through into the Top 50, beating many higher-ranked players along the way.
The tall and lanky operator has a great serve and a combination of offensive and defensive aspects to his game, which make him a well-rounded player. He has fierce ground strokes, especially his forehand, that help him dictate play from the baseline. Mental toughness and a calmness beyond his years added on top of all this make Menšík already a very dangerous opponent.
Menšík is still very young and will learn to play better with experience, but he has already earned a reputation on the ATP Tour and made himself an exciting prospect to watch in the coming years.
Also read: Most marketable tennis players in 2024
João Fonseca | Brazil, 18 years old
Fonseca had a great learning experience when he had the opportunity to play as a hitting partner for Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. After winning the Junior US Open Singles the same year, he was adjudged the ITF Champion and ended the year as World No. 1.
The Brazilian has enjoyed a standout 2024 that has included tour-level quarter-finals in Rio de Janeiro and Bucharest. As a consequence, he is in serious contention to qualify for the NextGen ATP Finals.
The 18-year-old has a unique inside-in forehand, which is his most lethal shot. He can also hit shots with a lot of spin and is good with volleys too. In addition to his dynamic style of play, his mental resilience has also been at the forefront with his comebacks from a set down to win crucial encounters.
Fonseca has a career-high ranking of 144 and would look to improve and break into the Top 100 next season. He has the makings of a future tennis star and 2025 could be a pivotal year for him.
Hamad Medjedovic | Serbia, 21 years old
The young Serb is the reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion, having defeated Arthur Fils, and is currently ranked World No. 102 in the men’s singles ATP Rankings.
Medjedovic looks set to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Novak Djokovic. 2024 has been a successful season for the 21-year-old, as he qualified for his first ATP 1000 Masters tournament at the Mutua Madrid Open and also won his first-round match there. He also qualified for another Masters at the Italian Open, where he performed exceptionally well to reach the third round.
Medjedovic’s has a generally aggressive style of play and prefers to operate from the baseline. Armed with a fast and accurate serve and strong ground strokes, he likes to dictate play from the back of the court. His agility and speed enable him to cover the court effectively, making it difficult for opponents to get points. His composure and mental toughness are also vital assets for the youngster and will help in future high-stakes encounters. He will be determined to make further improvements in the coming year, aiming to enhance his ranking and compete strongly in more ATP-level and Grand Slam tournaments.
Dino Prižmic | Croatia, 19 years old
This 19-year Croatian is another talented player to watch out for in the coming years. He offered a glimpse of his talent when he won the junior Roland-Garros at the French Open in 2023, while he made his breakthrough on the ATP Challenger circuit.
Prižmic’s highlight of this year was the fantastic first-round encounter against Djokovic at the Australian Open, where he took the 37-year-old to a gruelling four-hour contest. He did eventually lose in four sets, but not without impressing the global audience.
The Croat’s playing style is very aggressive, with powerful ground strokes that help him dictate play from the baseline. He has a decent serve on him, defends and attacks well, and possesses the athleticism to cover every inch of the court. His career-high ranking so far is 155th, and he would be determined to improve upon it as he heads into the upcoming season.
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