“I would circle Wimbledon for him”: Andy Roddick predicts players to watch for a Top-10 breakthrough in 2025

ATP
Thursday, 02 January 2025 at 05:30
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Andy Roddick shared his predictions about players who could break into the ATP top 10 in the 2025 season. The 2003 US Open champion mentioned five players—currently outside the top 20—who he believes have the potential to climb into the elite ranks.

The former world No. 1 started by selecting two of his compatriots: Ben Shelton (No. 21) and Sebastian Korda (No. 22). Although Shelton fell outside the top 20 at the end of 2024, he captured a title at the Houston Open and reached the final of the Swiss Indoors, where he lost to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

"I’ll fire quickly on Ben Shelton," said Andy Roddick. "He finished lower this year than he did the year before, but I think he's a better player. At times, he gets stuck between hyperaggression and being able to actually rely on his wheels. He's a crazy athlete, and I think he'll end next year close to the top 10."

Korda, on the other hand, boasts two titles, the most notable being the ATP 500 DC Open this year, where he defeated Flavio Cobolli in the final, ending a streak of five consecutive losses in finals. The 24-year-old American also reached the semifinals of the Canadian Open, defeating Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev along the way.

"Sebastian Korda always looks like a top-10 player on the eye test. It's just a matter of health. He is such a clean ball striker and reminds me a lot of Tomas Berdych with the way he's able to produce."

"Someone who it would surprise me zero if they ended up in the top 10, and who doesn't get mentioned in the top 10 enough, is Jiri Lehecka," Roddick continued. "He was on a great run in Madrid this year, plays huge, has a big serve, a strong body, and can beat really good players. He got hurt in Madrid, which kind of detoured his season, but he has enough weapons. Watch him for next year—he has a complete game, can come forward, and a big strong body. It feels like there's a bit of a belief system if you look at him."

Before wrapping up, Roddick named two more players: "I think Tomas Machac is someone who could be entering the top 10 next year. He's currently sitting at 25."

"Curious to see if our guy Matteo Berrettini will make a comeback. He's currently 34th in the world, but he's proven he can get back. Now, is he a top-15 guy? A top-10 guy? Can he make the semis of Majors? I’d circle Wimbledon for him."

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