Youth takes over: The rising stars who claimed their first WTA titles in 2025

With the WTA regular season concluded, the major stars of recent years returned to center stage. Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina—just like in previous years—were the names dominating the Tour's most important tournaments throughout 2025.

However, there was also room for several players to lift their first trophy this year, with 6 players claiming their maiden singles titles. The season provided space for several youngsters to kickstart their careers in fine form: four of the new champions were under 20 years old, and of the 6 players who won their first title in 2025, none were older than 23 at the time of victory.

The emergence of Victoria Mboko at the WTA 1000 Canadian Open undoubtedly stole the spotlight, though she wasn't the only one to deliver a major surprise. 17-year-old star Iva Jovic captured her first title at the WTA 500 Guadalajara Open, becoming the youngest first-time champion of the season.

One of the fresh faces to make a name for herself on Tour this year is the Australian Maya Joint. She went from starting the year outside the Top 100 to finishing at No. 32—putting her in a seeded position for the upcoming Australian Open. Her rapid rise became evident in May, when she won the first title of her career on the clay courts of the Rabat Open, defeating the experienced Romanian Jaqueline Cristian. A month later—this time during the grass swing—she secured her second title at the Eastbourne International, beating Alexandra Eala in the final.

Another name that drew attention was the 22-year-old Frenchwoman Lois Boisson. After her epic campaign to the semifinals at Roland Garros, the question remained whether she would be a "one-hit wonder" or could translate her high level to other tournaments. At the Hamburg Open—as the 5th seed—she defeated Anna Bondar in the final to claim her first WTA trophy.

She wasn't the only French success story, as her compatriot Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah triumphed in Sao Paulo during the first weeks of September. In the inaugural edition of the tournament, the 19-year-old defeated Indonesia's Janice Tjen in the final, a run that took her from outside the Top 200 to the verge of the Top 100. Her rival, Tjen, would find redemption two months later at the season closer, winning the Chennai Open in India by defeating Kimberly Birrell in straight sets.

Perhaps the most notable triumph for a first-time winner was that of Canadian star Victoria Mboko. She started the year at No. 337 and finished the season at No. 18. Her remarkable ascent is largely backed by her title at the WTA 1000 Canadian Open, the first of her career. During a dream week, she overcame rivals like Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Naomi Osaka (in the final) to bring glory back to a local player in Canada and establish herself among the Tour's best. Mboko will be a name to watch in 2026, especially with very few points to defend during the first half of the year.

Another surprise was the American Iva Jovic, who at just 17 years old became the champion of the WTA 500 Guadalajara Open. The teenager finished the year at No. 35, showing she is ready to fully integrate into the top tier. One of the great talents of her generation, she defeated rivals including Camila Osorio, Victoria Jiménez, and Emiliana Arango (in the final) in Guadalajara, capitalizing on a draw without too many superstars in the week following the US Open.