Tennis
Top Young Tennis Stars to Watch in 2025 | Rising Junior Talents
Beyond elite-level tennis, the lower rungs of the game are brimming with up-and-coming talent preparing to announce themselves on the biggest stage. Indeed, it is just as fascinating to see which new young players will burst onto the pro scene and make a name for themselves. The Next Gen players have been making waves on the junior circuit, and fans will be eager to see who will make the smooth transition to the ATP and WTA Tours. But who should we keep close tabs on? The purpose of this guide is to shine a spotlight on some of the most promising young tennis players who could take the pro game by storm in the future. We have assessed key data to make useful insights.
Jeline Vandromme /Getty Images
Industry Insights
According to the ITF Tennis’ 2025 tennis report, global tennis is witnessing one of the most competitive youth eras. The surge in international junior success across Europe, USA, and Asia has been driven by structured academy systems.
Players like Emerson Jones and Ksenia Efremova have already broken through, but the next generation, featuring prodigies such as Jeline Vandromme, Jana Kovackova, and Jack Kennedy, signals a shift towards more globally distributed dominance.
With increased exposure to pro-level tournaments and improved ITF integration with senior events, 2025 could mark the start of several future Grand Slam champions’ journeys.
Methodology
Our approach was meticulous. We used the following section criteria to measure the chances of potential success for the young tennis players on the verge of a breakthrough:
- 2024 Performance: Tournament wins, Grand Slam results, and consistency.
- Developmental Momentum: This illustrates transition success from the junior to professional tiers.
- Nationality & Representation: This uncovers regional diversity in rising tennis programs.
- Projected Growth: Coach insights, ranking trajectory, and physical development.
- Media & Scouting Attention: Frequency of ITF mentions and analyst recognition.
Fusing insights and the raw data brought about the ‘SB Market Index’, a custom-built rating system where the process was designed to maximise fairness and accuracy. The ‘SB Market Index’ score used a 0-100 scale, where 40% was assigned to tournament success, technical skill accounted for 25%, with 20% assigned to mental toughness, and the other 15% based on professional readiness.
SB Market Index Table
| Rank | Player | Country | Key 2024 Highlights | Age | SB Market Index |
| 1 | Jana Kovackova | Czech Republic | 17 total titles (8 singles, 9 doubles) – most since 1994 | 15 | 97 |
| 2 | Jeline Vandromme | Belgium | 2 J300 titles, 2 Grand Slam quarter-finals | 17 | 94 |
| 3 | Andres Santamarta Roig | Spain | First Spaniard since 2000s to win Orange Bowl | 18 | 92 |
| 4 | Kristina Penickova | USA | 7 doubles titles, Billie Jean King Cup Juniors champion | 16 | 90 |
| 5 | Jack Kennedy | USA | 4 titles (2 J300), led USA to Davis Cup Juniors win | 17 | 88 |
| 6 | Elizara Yaneva | Bulgaria | J500 Meridia champion, Orange Bowl finalist | 18 | 86 |
| 7 | Mingge Xu | Great Britain | Won first pro title (W35 Aldershot) | 18 | 86 |
| 8 | Henry Bernet | Switzerland | Rising star likened to Federer, elegant all-court style | 18 | 85 |
| 9 | Jagger Leach | USA | 4 titles, Wimbledon Jr. quarter-finalist | 18 | 83 |
| 10 | Amir Omarkhanov | Kazakhstan | Promising trajectory, consistent junior performer | 18 | 80 |
Player Profiles
Jana Kovackova
2024 was an enormously successful year for Jana Kovackova as she clinched 17 titles, singling her out as the best player on the ITF Juniors circuit. This was the most junior tour titles collected since Federico Browne lifted 21 trophies in 1994. A hugely talented player with a bright future, Kovackova topped our rankings with an astonishing ‘SB Market Index’ score of 97.
Jelinne Vandromme
In the same kind of mould as Justine Henin, one of the best female tennis players ever, Jelinne Vandromme claimed two J300 titles in 2024, and her two quarter-final appearances at the junior Grand Slams, suggest she has the potential to make a splash in the future.
Andres Santamarta Roig
The first Spaniard since the early 2000s to win the Orange Bowl, Andres Santamarta Roig will inevitably try to emulate the achievements of his fellow countrymen, most notably Rafael Nadal. There is plenty of excitement about this 18-year-old, who is known for his aggressive style, and he returned a strong ‘SB Market Index’ score.
Kristina Penickova
A formidable doubles player, Kristina Penickova and her twin sister, Annika, have already racked up seven doubles titles. Penickova, who won the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup juniors with the USA in 2024, has been touted for big things.
Jack Kennedy
With four titles under his belt, Jack Kennedy, who played a starring role in the USA’s Davis Cup juniors win in 2024, has the ingredients to make the breakthrough, and he’s even trained a few times with Ben Shelton, trying to return his monster serve.
Elizara Yaneva
Climbing up the rankings, Elizara Yaneva, who won the J500 Merida and the J300 Vrsar titles, also reached the Orange Bowl final. The Bulgarian’s calm temperament is demonstrated by her ability to suss things out and produce in clutch moments.
Mingge Xu
Mingge Xu laid down a marker as she won the W35 Aldershot to claim her first pro title on the ITF World Tennis Women’s circuit, and she followed that up with a run to the US Open juniors semi-final, exhibiting her quality on hard court
Henry Bernet
Likened to Roger Federer for his graceful style and effortless movement, Henry Bernet has big shoes to fill. The 18-year-old posted a 71% win record in 2024, and he’s making moves.
Jagger Leach
Son of female tennis legend Lindsay Davenport, Jagger Leach won four titles in 2024, and he has soft hands on grass. This was reflected by his quarter-final run at the Wimbledon Junior Championships.
Amir Omarkhanov
Amir Omarkhanov appears to be on a promising trajectory. Last year, he beat the highly-rated Federico Cina in the Australian Open Junior Championships, won the J300 title in Beijing, and is renowned for his powerful forehand. He trains in Belgrade at the Janko Tipsarevic Academy, and he produced a solid ‘SB Market Index’ score.
Conclusion
In summary, Jana Kovackova topped our rankings based on analyst recognition as well as superior stats. The Czech star has been flying on the junior circuit, and has routinely blitzed her opponents.
However, Kovackova isn’t alone in making serious strides. The likes of Jelinne Vandroome and Jack Kennedy have also excelled with their exciting brands of tennis, and it will be fascinating to see how their careers develop. A combination of skill, patience, and being single-minded will set them on the right track to success.
Charles Perrin is a highly experienced sports betting content writer with over six years of working with some of the leading sportsbooks in the UK, including bet365 and William Hill.