Young tennis stars have made a significant impact in 2025, with three emerging players elevating their performances.
At the Australian Open, Joao Fonseca stunned Andrey Rublev in a first-round match, marking a notable breakthrough in the tennis world.
Shortly thereafter, Fonseca claimed his first tour-level title at the Argentina Open with a 6-4, 7-6 victory over Francisco Cerundolo.
During the season’s first Masters 1000 tournament, Jack Draper triumphed over Holger Rune at Indian Wells, earning his place in the top ten with the most significant title of his career.
Following this, Jakub Mensik won the Miami Open, achieving one of the year’s biggest upsets by defeating Novak Djokovic in the final.
Andy Roddick Predicts Joao Fonseca Will Outshine His Peers
On his podcast Served with Andy Roddick, former world number one Andy Roddick discussed which player he believes has the brightest future ahead.
“I would probably go with [Joao] Fonseca. He is a standout and handles pressure well,” Roddick noted. “He already attracts crowds in every city he competes in.”
However, Roddick highlighted the necessity for Fonseca to improve his fitness: “He must develop that physicality,” suggesting that his recent encounters had exposed areas for growth. Looking towards the French Open, Roddick expressed curiosity about how Fonseca would perform on clay.
Upcoming ATP Tour Plans for Draper, Fonseca, and Mensik
Only one of the players mentioned by Roddick, Jack Draper, is set to compete this week at the Monte-Carlo Masters.
Draper, currently ranked seventh in the world, will face Marcus Giron in the second round on April 8. Meanwhile, Mensik and Fonseca are skipping this Masters 1000 event but plan to return later in April.
Mensik is expected to take part in qualifying at the Munich Open, while Fonseca will join fellow young talents at the Madrid Open starting April 21.
The next few weeks will be pivotal in determining which of these young players will make a significant impact on the ATP circuit during the 2025 clay-court season.
