2025 vision: What the new WTA season could bring

Swiatek to strike back?

The majority of the players on the planet would sign up for Iga Swiatek's 2024. The five titles included a Roland-Garros defence but, due to Sabalenka's superiority, it didn't feel quite right for the Pole, who lost her No.1 ranking in the process.

Coach Tomasz Wiktorowski – who guided the 23-year-old to four out of her five majors – has departed and the highly decorated Wim Fissette has been hired to relaunch Swiatek. Fissette has a proven track record working with multiple Grand Slam champions – so what will be the main focus?

“I think it’s kind of obvious," said Swiatek back in November. "I for sure want to improve my serve, as I’ve been doing for past years. I feel like I still need to continue that.

“For sure I’m not a complete player. I think tactically there are many ways I could go and have more variety on court. Wim has some nice ideas.”

What will Swiatek bring to the party in Melbourne and beyond?

Super coach for Rybakina

Speaking of new coaches, Elena Rybakina's recruitment has to be mentioned.

During the WTA Finals in Riyadh the 2022 Wimbledon champion revealed that former world No.2 Goran Ivanisevic would be taking the reins.

Ivanisevic had sustained success coaching Novak Djokovic in recent years, it will be that knowhow that Rybakina will be seeking.

Rybakina already has a full-throttle game – so it will be intriguing what tweaks the 2001 Wimbledon winner makes on the practice court.

Sabalenka to keep the ball rolling

Just like Jannik Sinner in the men's ranks, it's very hard to imagine Aryna Sabalenka won’t continue to lift plenty of silverware in 2025.

Swiatek vs Sabalenka is a rivalry we all want to witness as much as possible.

From Sabalenka's view point it's more of the same – competing with relentless intensity and controlled aggression.

Should Sabalenka stay fit and motivated within her tightknit team, then the world No.1 is poised for more major contention.

Fresh starts the name of the game

There are a plethora of players who put in some serious graft in 2024 and could build upon that foundation with a flourish in the upcoming campaign. Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka (who held match point over Swiatek in the Roland-Garros second round) appeared ever so close to making her mark again. Unranked up to world No.57 in just one season says it all.

In a similar vein, Ajla Tomljanovic rose 500 spots and Amanda Anisimova motored from No.359 all the way up to No.36 in 2024.

What about Paula Badosa? The Spaniard has shown remarkable resilience to fend off injuries and self-doubt, soaring back up with rankings thanks to a strong clay campaign, a Washington trophy lift, WTA 1000 semi-finals in Cincinnati and Beijing, alongside matching her Grand Slam best result with a US Open finish in the Elite 8.

Watch this space, Osaka to Badosa, the talent all down the Top 100 can spell danger for the top seeds.

Youth to have their say

Rocking the retro bandana, Diana Shnaider is a prodigy to keep tabs on in 2025. The 20-year-old burst into the limelight last season with four titles – collected across three surfaces. The world No.13 thrives in competition and has the firepower to take out most games.

Teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva, a semi-finalist at Roland-Garros 2024, is no longer hunting down seeds, she's now a major contender at world No.16.  American Peyton Stearns captured a maiden title last year, 20-year-old Czech Linda Noskova continues to turn heads with blazing tennis, world No.18 Marta Kostyuk doesn't shy away from any challenge.

The top talent will need to be sharp week in week out to keep these kinds of shining stars at bay.

Zheng leading the chasing pack

Sabalenka and Swiatek justifiably occupy a lot of the contender conversation.

Elsewhere, Coco Gauff will be eager to transfer electrifying form from her WTA Finals triumph into the next season. The American is searching, looking to bolster her whole armoury, so much so that the 20-year-old has grip specialist Matt Daly in the Coco setup.

Away from those three favourites, can Jasmine Paolini replicate her Grand Slam final showings? Will the likes of Ons Jabeur, Leylah Fernandez or Caroline Garcia rediscover their major spark?

One thing that is a certainty is world No.5 Zheng Qinwen putting on a show. The Chinese superstar – an Australian Open runner-up and Olympic gold medallist – is absorbing to watch and speaks as if the hunger and drive is there for that last step.

“After I won Olympic gold medal,” said Zheng, “the first thing I told myself is: 'I want to keep the motivation on. I don't want to let myself slip again.' I really want to improve in my mental side, how to maintain the level when you become a champion to keep winning, winning, winning, instead of getting relaxed and let yourself lose 'easy' match.

“If I'm able to do that, I think I will really break through some walls that I have for myself."