The 2025 WTA Season Previewed.

The new season has finally arrived after weeks of intense anticipation. On Sporting Wrap we preview both tours, starting with the WTA side. Who will succeed and who will surprise? One thing is for certain: it’s sure to be a terrific journey.

The Big Stories

New Coaches Galore

Three of tennis’s top players enjoyed their first pre-season with new coaches this Winter. Just how big an impact will that have on their fortunes?

Last season was the first time since 2021 that Iga Swiatek failed to finish as world number one. For her hefty standards, it was a rather underwhelming season with Roland Garros the only Grand Slam to her name and just four WTA 1000 events to accompany it. Moreover, issues against flat big hitters such as Jelena Ostapenko remained, while an inability to transfer her world-class game over to the grass courts persisted. She had a hectic end to the season as she served a suspension for doping and changed her coach to Wim Fisette. At just twenty-three there is still so much she can improve on, which is a truly frightening prospect.

After a season riddled with ill health, Elena Rybakina will be looking to return to the top of the women’s game with another Grand Slam victory. With Goran Ivanisevic now in her camp, it’ll be fascinating to see whether such a wish comes true. At her best, she is the most effortless and ruthless player on tour. However, channelling that version of herself consistently has been a struggle recently for reasons out of her control.

Coco Gauff spent her first pre-season with Matt Daly, fresh off glory at the WTA Finals. Of all the players at the upper echelon of the sport, Gauff feels like the one with the most potential. Despite being a seasoned pro with solid experience on the tour, she is still just twenty-years-old. The American is arguably the most mentally tough player on tour. All too often has had to battle faltering forehands and inconsistent serving, yet she has still found a way to reign victorious against the very best. Should she iron out those imperfections, it’s hard to see anyone standing in her way.

Getty Images/ Nur Photo, Getty Images/Karwai Tang , Getty Images/Frey/TPN

Returning Forces

As always, the nostalgic part of a tennis brain wishes to see the comeback story. Which of these three can rediscover their mojo?

Even though Naomi Osaka currently sits at world number 55, there was more than enough showings last season to assure us that the raw game is still there. Her thriller against Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros acts as an example of that. Sure, it was inconsistent, the twenty-seven year old even conceded “I don’t feel like I’m in my body. It’s a strange feeling, missing balls I shouldn’t miss, hitting balls softer than I remember I used to.” Yet, at the same time, perspective is necessary. After a lengthy absence from the sport, last year was all about match practice, now competitive expectations can take place.

Unlike Osaka, Jabeur has yet to win a Grand Slam and one may worry that her ship has sailed. The 2023 Wimbledon final will always be a heart-breaking watch. Despite this though, for two seasons she was very well at the top of the women’s game. Should she return to those levels she will be a contender, and then it’s down to the mental side; can she get over that hurdle ?

The 2023 Roland Garros runner up has suffered injuries throughout her career. At best she gets a year without being side-lined and starting the recovery process all over again. Therefore, on the spells where her body doesn’t let her down, she needs to capitalise. Her performances have been wonderful, reaching two US Open Semi-Finals and coming incredibly close in Paris. Her game style like Jabeur’s is refreshing in a era of big hitting dominance on both tours. The touch, the backhand slice and the compact groundstrokes are a sight to behold. Will 2025 be the year when her bad luck finally runs out?

Getty Images Sport/Julian Finney, Camera Sport/ Rob Newell, Getty Images Sport/Robert Prange

Potential Breakthroughs

In the tennis world there is always a breakthrough you don’t expect. It’s hardly unusual for a player to reach the top end of the sport and completely change their status in the place of a year. Predicting such fortunes can be incredibly tricky, you only need to look at Emma Radacanu and Leylah Fernandez as recent examples.

Despite this, I still feel pretty confident in throwing Mirra Andreeva into the mixer. The 17 year old impressed last season, reaching the semi-final of Roland Garros. Her style of tennis is so aggressive and fearless that she has the aura on court of someone much older. Expect a steady climb up the rankings before bursting onto the scene in a major or WTA 1000 event.

Shnaider is rather different. Aged twenty with more experience, she has steadily made a name for herself. She is still to announce herself on the Grand Slam stage but has consistently produces the goods at lower scale tournaments. Her left handed serve opens up space to bring an aggressive and flat hitting game into the court. She will likely continue her consistency at the lower ranked events while looking to cause upsets higher up the echelon.

Noskova is the must unknown quantity of these three. After shocking Swiatek at the Australian Open before taking her to three close sets at Indian Wells her season was somewhat stop start. Her only other highlights were a semi final in Prague plus a title in Monterrey. However, the Czech suffered injury issues which ruined the back end of last season, before turning up at the Billie Jean King Cup and once again losing to Swiatek in three close sets. The raw materials are there, her performances against the world number two reveal as much. This would be a more under the radar surge, but if there is anything the WTA Tour has taught is : expect the unexpected.