Top 5 Rising Stars to Watch in the ATP Tour This Season

Going into 2025, the ATP Tour is stacked with youngsters gunning for recognition. With so many players performing beyond their experience, this is one of the more intriguing seasons for any tennis fan. Here are five rising stars who will look to rise in the rankings and take on more established players.

1. Jakub Mensik

At just 19 years of age, Jakub Mensik has wasted no time in making an impact on the ATP Tour. Ranked No. 48 in January 2025, the rise of Mensik has been nothing short of phenomenal. He ended 2024 as the ATP's Newcomer of the Year after beating high-end players like Andrey Rublev and Grigor Dimitrov in some of his highest-pressure matches. Even now, Canadian sportsbooks and those around the world tout Mensik as one of the most prominent emerging talents in the sport. He will have to prove himself in the sea of fantastic players, but he is on the right path with proper determination and devotion.

Mensik's game is built around a strong serve and aggressive baseline play. At 6'4", he uses his great length to dominate opponents with an ace; he is averaging about 15.67 aces per match this season. He did well in the Australian Open, where he reached the second round after eliminating big names that confronted him in earlier rounds.

At a current win percentage of 66.67%, it's shaping up to be a breakout year, and many pundits believe that he will crack the top 30 by the end of the season if he keeps this level up.

2. Joao Fonseca

Another player in the limelight is Brazil's Joao Fonseca. The 18-year-old, who has risen like a rocket through the ranks, recently cracked the Top 100 at No. 99 from No. 651 at the beginning of the year. His whirlwind rise includes a title win at the Next Gen ATP Finals and an upset win over ninth seed Andrey Rublev in the opening round of the Australian Open.

Fonseca combines finesse and power to bring out the best of any surface he competes on, not only because of his results but also because of his charisma inside and outside of the court. With time gained in every main tournament, it is going to be easy for Fonseca to get familiar with everyone who loves tennis.

3. Ben Shelton

American Ben Shelton is another person who caught my eye with his dynamic play and competitive spirit. Currently, at No. 20, he has shown remarkable adaptability across different surfaces, as seen in various tournaments leading to this season.

In 2025 alone, Shelton has already made a reasonable $687,775 in prize money from his matches this month, proving the fact that he can compete at a high level with consistency. Strong lefty with power in his serve and aggressive net game, he is a force to be reckoned with against any opponent. Improvement of his skills and more experience in the GS events should see him move higher up in ranking this year.

4. Juncheng Shang

Another promising talent in the ATP atmosphere is Chinese Juncheng Shang. An 18-year-old tennis player, he has already managed to create quite a buzz for himself with his outstanding performances in most junior circuits and early professional tournaments.

Quick feet and judiciously placed shots mark Shang's game as he outmaneuvers opponents with ease. He has shown promise against top players and is working at a spot in the top rankings of men's tennis.

With more frequent appearances on the ATP Tour this season, fans are in for some thrilling action as he grows into his game.

5. Learner Tien

Learner Tien is one of the most intriguing prospects in American tennis today. Only 17, Tien has shown skill and maturity on the court that is far beyond his years. He made headlines lately with runs to advanced rounds in a series of Challenger events, hanging tough against more experienced opponents.

That flexibility in Tien's game allows him to mold it depending on who is standing across the net from him, which is a nightmare for an opponent to deal with. He may become the face of American tennis as he sees more time on the ATP Tour this year.

A Closer Look at the Canadian Star Gabriel Diallo

While searching for rising stars, one will not forget to mention Gabriel Diallo from Canada. Still 21-year-old, Diallo has been gradually moving up the rankings and currently stands at No. 65 in the ATP ranking as of January 2025.

Recent form has shown the strong serve and heavy baseline game of Diallo, which has worked very well against youngsters and veterans alike. His participation in key tournaments this season will be crucial to gaining experience and confidence as he seeks to break into the top tier of men's tennis.

With Canadian tennis on the rise, driven by the success of such established stars as Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov, Diallo is a welcome addition to the growing legacy.

These five future stars - Jakub Mensik, Joao Fonseca, Ben Shelton, Juncheng Shang, and Learner Tien - together with the promising Canadian talent Gabriel Diallo, will stamp their marks on the ATP Tour. Their various styles of play and resolve will soothe the hearts of the fans and push many established players to participate in the coming tournaments.

But with every match that they play, the legacy that they build in tennis history pushes them on to be great on the biggest stages of the sport. It's a bright future ahead for these young talents as they go on with their journeys toward being household names in professional tennis.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Unlock your ultimate tennis experience—subscribe today for exclusive access to top stories.

Subscribe