At a time when the so-called "Next Gen" is slowly starting to take over from the stellar generation of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, everyone is dying to get a glimpse of what tomorrow's tennis elite will look like, right?
So, because we don't have a crystal ball (and that's better that way), with Tennis Manger we have a great simulation tool able to give us a small idea, or at least to imagine, what our future top 8 in the world on the WTA and ATP circuit could be.
We are going to launch this beautiful machine on the next 9 years and, every day, we will announce you who will be our next champions on the international professional circuit. Of course, all the results will be purely hypothetical (and the comments totally romanticized 😊)! It will nevertheless, at least we hope, make you react and we will be delighted to collect your comments and analysis on the announced predictions.
So here are the next 9 years simulated by Tennis Manager 2021!
In the women's competition, Naomi Osaka reclaimed her status as world No. 1 by defeating Australian Ashley Barty by a narrow margin. We should note the entry of Sofia Kenin and Elina Svitolina in the women's elite and the return of Serena Williams relying on her long experience on the circuit to maintain a competitive level.
On the men's side, Novak Djokovic's performance has collapsed as he has lost several tournaments (due to his non-vaccination with covid?), has suffered a phenomenal loss of points. Daniil Medvedev took advantage of this absence to consolidate his domination while the wonderkids Shapo and Sinner arrive in ambush and integrate our top 8.
Whether on the WTA or ATP tour, the year 2023 marks the beginning of a new era. Indeed, on the women's side, the young Sofia Kenin takes control of the circuit by overtaking the Japanese by a short head. It is also and especially the removal from the top 8 of the emblematic Serena Williams for whom experience and tenacity are no longer enough to push back the young generation. Finally, we should note the arrival in the top 3 of the Polish player Iga Swiatek who, after joining Toni Nadal's academy, is determined to shake up the established order.
Finally, on the men's side, Djokovic's prolonged absence from the circuit (as well as a gluten intoxication) has precipitated his fall from the roof of the tennis world. While the Argentinian gaucho Schwartzman is making his entrance into the elite (with footwork that would make his illustrious elder Guillermo Coria pale in comparison), the battle is raging in the top 3. Indeed, the Russian Medvedev loses his crown to Tsitsipas, while the young Italian Sinner makes a remarkable entry and signs (already) the rebellion of the next (next) generation!
2024 is a confirmation of 2023 and its dynamics, especially for the girls. While the young American Kenin always consolidates her domination on the circuit, the Polish girl confirms her progression and steals the second place from Osaka who leaves the top 3 to the benefit of Andreescu. The Australian Barty, in conflict with her trainer and her staff, goes down dangerously in the ranking and freezes at the bottom of the peloton.
In the boys' category, it is the year of Russia and especially of Rublev who finally takes the first position in our ranking. He takes advantage of a decrease of the Greek Tsitsipas disqualified twice for untimely father coaching. In spite of a year 2023 finished in beauty, Sinner loses some places in the ranking and finishes at the 7th position, while Dominic Thiem, after a long convalescence, makes his comeback in the world tennis scene.
For this year 2025, the WTA Tour sees the emergence of a new American star by the name of Madison Keys. Newly coached by Nicole Bollettieri who, after taking over her father's training center, seems to have found the perfect formula to optimize the skills of her young compatriot. The fight is tenacious in second and third place respectively awarded to Osaka and Swiatek.
On the ATP side, there were few significant changes other than the reappearance of the Italian Sinner. The latter declared that he had worked on his game strategy and decided not to systematically "send breezeblocks", according to the player himself. This progression complicates the business of the Russian Medvedev who leaves the top 3 while his compatriot Khachanov climbs to the 7th place of the ranking.
A new year and new twists on the women's circuit. While Madison Keys was running at a high speed, the fall was just as brutal. The separation with her coach Nicole Bollettieri can hardly appear as a coincidence while her compatriot Sofia Kenin, as for her, attaches the services of the former world number 1 Amélie Mauresmo. This new collaboration is a clear success as she regains control over the WTA circuit. Finally, the entry of Aryna Sabalenka who is directly positioned in 3rd position is to be noted. The Belarusian, who won her first Wimbledon this year, confirmed the hopes placed in her.
In the men's tour, it's no longer a battle but a real trench war (Russian style) in the top 3. Indeed, Medvedev recovers his crown at the expense of his compatriot Rublev at the end of an extremely disputed year where each of them won 2 Grand Slam titles. Sinner is still holding on to his 3rd place while another Italian, Matteo Berrettini, reaches the top 8 (his best ranking so far).
In the year 2027, the trio of Kenin, Osaka and Sabalenka remains unchanged and undoubtedly reigns over women's tennis. Despite pressure from Swiatek and Barty, this trio has managed to capture the major titles of the season. Let's note the arrival of Elena Rybakina at the 7th place of our ranking. After acquiring the services of the fantastic Marat Safin, the Russian has considerably strengthened and balanced her game and thus delivered an average level of play that is much higher than what she was used to.
On the ATP circuit, Rublev remains the master of her discipline and continues to play at a stratospheric level. Even his Davis Cup teammate, Daniil Medvedev, can't keep up and is now in 6th place. The undisputed leader of Italian tennis, Jannick Sinner, reached his best ranking in 2027 by finishing 2nd in the race. But beware of the arrival of the promising Musetti who finally managed to reach the top 8 and thus took the 5th place. Alexander Zverev, who had been away from the circuit for several months in 2026 for personal reasons, is back in better shape than ever!
The years go by and they don't necessarily look the same! As proof of this year 2028, three new players have joined the world's elite women's tennis scene: the Americans Osuigwe and Montgomery and the Swiss Bencic. A real breath of fresh air on the circuit which, despite everything, is still dominated by Swiatek and Osaka who impressed by their regularity without failure. Sabalenka was absent from the competition as she had several muscular problems and decided to focus on her physical preparation.
In the men's category, Andrey Rublev completed a second brilliant year in which there was almost no competition! Indeed, by winning 3 Grand Slams and 4 Masters 1000, he left only a few crumbs to his pursuers. The Greek Tsitsipas, by winning his second Roland Garros in a row, confirmed the extent of his undeniable qualities as a clay player. Finally, the year 2028 will finally leave a place to the talented Alcaraz, author of an incredible season where he will win successively Rome and Monte Carlo, before failing in the final of Roland Garros against the Greek.
At the end of the decade, the women's circuit crowned the Polish Swiatek for the second time. At this point it seems obvious that her entry into the Nadal academy is a more than successful operation as her game, especially on clay, has evolved considerably and leaves little space for her competitors. In her rearview mirror, she can nevertheless observe the return of Sofia Kenin, for whom the collaboration with the former world number 1 Mauresmo is always fruitful and brings her consistency and solidity.
On the men's side, it's still an almost perfect year for Rublev who has won 3 Grand Slam titles and 6 Masters 1000... Simply edifying for the Russian who finds, despite of everything, time to perform regularly with the group One Direction 😊. The rest of the leading pack is 100% Italian with the extraordinary breakthrough, in particular, of Lorenzo Musetti who seems to have totally recovered from his disillusionment against Djokovic at Roland Garros 2021 edition. It was about time you will tell me but, according to the Italian, the grieving was long and tenacious!
And finally, the year 2030! Will it mark the beginning of a new era? Certainly not for the ladies where Swiatek finishes in 1st place for the third consecutive time, a real consecration for the Polish who became quite simply untouchable! Sabalenka and Andreescu complete the podium of our ranking in a year that seemed however more open than the previous ones. Sabalenka's comeback is the result of a real resilience work on the physical level, hats off to her! Finally, let's note the arrival of the young Brenda Fruhvirtova who, after years more complicated than expected on the intermediate circuit, finally confirmed the hopes placed in her.
On the ATP circuit a small revolution has taken place, after winning 9 Grand Slam, King Rublev is no more. But do not worry, the crown is well and truly screwed on a well-made head in the person of Lorenzo Musetti! Long live this beautiful Italian generation! The "elders" Tsitsipas, Medvedev and Zverev remain but beware, respect for the elders was buried a long time ago in the tennis world!
So, have any records been broken in this decade?
In the women's tour, despite the amazing achievements of Osaka (10 Grand Slams), Kenin (8 Grand Slams) and Swiatek (7 Grand Slams), the throne is still held by Serena Williams who has won 23 major titles.
Finally, in the men's tour, as beautiful as the decade of the new generation post Djoko, Nadal and Federer was, Rublev's 10 Grand Slam titles (and 7 for Sinner) are no match for Djokovic and his 21 major titles. Finally, let's note the 240 weeks of Djoko's No. 1 ranking, closely followed by Rublev with 205 weeks.
(Very) good generation, but not yet enough to dethrone the masters of tennis of the 21st century!