2025 vision: What the ATP season could bring

Last year highlighted the true strength and depth of men's tennis. What has this campaign got in store?

Jannik Sinner, Nitto ATP Finals 2024, Simple Messieurs, 1/2 Finale©Corinne Dubreuil / FFT
 - Alex Sharp

Men's tennis keeps evolving at a rapid pace, the new breed are hot on the heels of the established elite. Last season welcomed plenty of players into the mix with altering styles and personalities. Nothing is predictable now. Here's a flavour of what to expect over the next 12 months on Tour…

Djokovic digging in for major gold

With his closest, career-long rivals standing down, it feels like Novak Djokovic is the last man standing from his ultra-dominant era.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have taken over, Djokovic's chances of becoming the only player ever on 25 Grand Slams are incrementally decreasing. Well, not quite.

The 37-year-old has enlisted a certain Andy Murray as his coach for the off-season and for the Australian Open (where Djokovic is a 10-time champion). Yes, you read that correctly. The duo met in battle 36 times (25-11 to the Serbian) and duelled in seven Grand Slam finals (5-2 Djokovic). What a rivalry now partnership.

It will be truly fascinating what Murray will bring to the table – surely their work will have more of a tactical tone then technical. One thing that is certain is Murray will take this role very seriously, this isn't a coaching gimmick or a PR stunt. The Scot has always been a keen tennis student and could provide that extra two or three percentage needed to outmanoeuvre the likes of Sinner/Alcaraz deep in the majors.

Sinner in a league alone?

For world No.1 Sinner it is a case of rinse and repeat. His eight-title haul in 2024, including his maiden two Majors, was nothing short of miraculous.

Can he keep up those ultra-consistent standards? Will his body hold up? Only time will tell. Back in Turin, following ATP Finals glory, Sinner insisted he won't be resting on his laurels.

"I actually believe there is still gap of improvement. There are still certain shots and points that I can make sometimes better, but there are small details. The higher you play level-wise, the more details make the difference," declared Sinner.

"I'm not looking about being the first whatever. It's just stats what's not written. Me, I always try to improve as a player and try to understand what I can do better.

"It's going to be the same next year: whatever we can catch, we take, and the rest we learn. I think that was the mentality we approached this whole year (2024), trying to raise my level in specific moments, which I've done throughout this year."

Alcaraz will definitely be in the major conversations and the Spaniard is emboldened by winning all three clashes with Sinner in 2024. Their rivalry is simmering, their most recent tussles have been off the charts in terms of shotmaking. More of the same again please in 2025.

Berrettini the 'darkhorse' tag

Cast your mind back to 2021 and Matteo Berrettini was a Wimbledon runner-up, his booming serve and sledgehammer forehand had sent the Italian to the very top.

Instead of wrestling over Grand Slam silverware, the 28-year-old has endured a couple of injury spoilt seasons. Each time he gets out of first gear, another issue has popped up.

2024 represented a true turnaround for Berrettini. Returning from a six-month stint on the sidelines in March, he rose from a low of No.154 all the way up to finishing at world No.36. Three clay titles in the bag last season, alongside playing a pivotal role in Italy's Davis Cup defence - Berrettini is well and truly back.

He's capable on all surfaces, proven by quarter-finals at the very least at all four Grand Slams. No one will want to face a fresh and firing Matteo in the majors.

First time feeling in reach?

Away from the usual suspects, there are a clutch of players who have had Grand Slam trophies snatched from their grasp in the final.

Take world No.2 Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas or Casper Ruud. Is the hunger there? Can they add an extra dimension to their game to get over the line?

One player who seems relatively far from his full potential is Taylor Fritz. The American booked a maiden major final at the US Open and was swatted aside by Sinner. No shame in that.

His serve and forehand are bullets, his other strokes have plenty of room for improvement and evolution. The world No.4 isn't scared to come forward and has a mega strong work ethic. Fritz must fancy his chances of landing prestigious titles in 2025.

Back up and go big

It’s crowded at the top. There are so many players producing head-turning tennis, who will be eager to back up big breakthroughs in the past year or so.

Jack Draper seems the real deal as proven by a US Open semi-final. Lorenzo Musetti also hit the final four at Wimbledon. Their extensive shot repertoire could cause similar damage.

Arthur Fils is due a standout Grand Slam result – it would be one hell of a show. Ben Shelton thrives in the spotlight and will continue to bang on the door. Alexei Popyrin has already tasted Masters 1000 glory in Montreal. These guys sure know how to engage a crowd.

The signs are promising for Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard with his slingshot serve, China is basking in a potentially golden era with the likes of Zhang Zhizhen and Jerry Shang posting statement results. Canada's Gabriel Diallo is another prospect with huge weapons and a heart for the fight.

Tennis also crowned its latest star at the Next Gen ATP Finals in late December, when Brazil's 18-year-old sensation Joao Fonseca capped the perfect week with victory over Learner Tien. Fonseca is a name with an exhilarating game we're going to be seeing a lot of next season and beyond.

The names, the list is endless. The key contenders won't have a moment's rest in 2025.