Top five tennis tournaments to watch out for in 2025

The new season commenced with the Brisbane International competition, where Aryna Sabalenka emerged as the champion. This event provided athletes with a final opportunity to assess their performance in preparation for the first Grand Slam of the 2025 calendar year.

Last year was a season full of thrills and unexpected moments. Novak Djokovic secured the Olympic gold medal, while Carlos Alcaraz triumphed at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Additionally, Jannik Sinner ascended to the position of world number one, claiming victories at the Australian Open and the US Open. The retirement announcements of tennis legends Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray added a bittersweet note to the year.

Women’s tennis had no shortage of drama with Aryna Sabalenka winning both the Australian and US Open and dethroning Iga Swiatek, winner of the French Open, to become the new World Number One. Fans were in for a surprise at Wimbledon as Barbora Krejcikova shocked everyone and went on to win the Championship.

At the Paris Games, Swiatek was taken aback by Qinwen Zheng, who made history as the first Chinese to win an Olympic Gold medal in tennis. The previous year was characterized by intense tennis matches, a range of emotions, dramatic moments, entertainment, and controversies, and it is anticipated that 2025 will follow a similar trajectory.

In this article, let's take a look at the top five tennis tournaments to watch out for in 2025.

5. United Cup

Surpassing Davis Cup, the United Cup has become the most followed group event in tennis in 2024 and excitement will be high for the next season. Serving as the concluding event of the year, this competition provides athletes with the chance to represent their nation one last time in their pursuit of the championship.

The United Cup 2025-26 will mark the fourth edition of the tournament, during which the United States has secured two championships. Poland experienced a poignant disappointment, reaching the finals yet again, only to be the runners-up for the second consecutive occasion. A total of 18 nations qualified for the event, with Kazakhstan making its debut and achieving a remarkable semi-final finish, largely due to the outstanding performance of Elena Rybakina.

4. Roland Garros

The premier clay tournament is scheduled to take place in the final week of May, following the French Open and the Australian Open. Carlos Alcaraz aims to defend his title, while Novak Djokovic seeks to secure his fourth victory at the French Open. The current top seed, Jannik Sinner, has yet to achieve a win in Paris and will be keen to commence his success in what is anticipated to be a highly competitive contest.

Iga Swiatek will enter the tournament as the prominent favorite, having secured victory in four out of five Grand Slam events held at this location. She is indisputably the top player on clay; however, Zheng's remarkable performance at the Games suggests that she is not invincible.

3. US Open

The final Grand Slam of the year provides players with one last opportunity to conclude the season on a high. The 2023 US Open witnessed Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner finishing their campaigns successfully. Sinner, in particular, had a significant point to demonstrate in light of doping allegations, and he made a strong statement by defeating local favorite Taylor Fritz in the final.

The 2024 tournament was marked by numerous surprises, including the early eliminations of defending champions Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff, as well as the unexpected defeats of 2022 US Open champions Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek. With the 2025 US Open on the horizon, it may represent the last opportunity for several prominent, veteran players, potentially including Novak Djokovic, signaling the conclusion of a significant era in the sport of tennis.

2. Australian Open

The tennis season commences with the Australian Open, providing players an opportunity to start anew as they embark on a lengthy year ahead. Much like the US Open, Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner will compete to retain their respective titles. Notably, Sabalenka will be aiming for a third consecutive victory at the Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic aims to further solidify his supremacy at the Rod Laver Arena, where he has secured 10 titles and remains undefeated in finals within this tournament. Meanwhile, players such as Alcaraz, Swiatek, and Gauff have yet to claim victory in Melbourne and are eager to break their winning drought.

1. Wimbledon

The Wimbledon Championship is often regarded as the heart of tennis, giving the game many moments of brilliance. The finals of 2019 and 2023 stand out as prime candidates for the most exceptional matches in the annals of sports, both of which included Novak Djokovic. In 2024, Carlos Alcaraz successfully defended his title with relative ease and aspires to achieve a similar outcome in the future.

The top-seeded Jannik Sinner has not yet secured a victory on grass courts. In contrast, Novak Djokovic has triumphed at Wimbledon seven times and is just one title away from matching Roger Federer's record of eight championships. The Serbian athlete has faced challenges both on and off the court, including multiple confrontations with the crowd.

None of the top seeds in the WTA have won in London, with the exception of Elena Rybakina, currently seeded sixth, who claimed the championship in 2022. Swiatek, Sabalenka, and Gauff have not performed exceptionally well on grass courts and will be keen to reverse their fortunes by making history in the UK this year.

Cover Credits - BBC