Ranking the Best Men's Tennis Players Under 25 Years Old
There hasn't been a full-fledged changing of the guard just yet in men’s tennis, but there has been a gathering of the arms.
While Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have held a near monopoly on Grand Slam titles since 2005, a number of rising talents have shown enormous potential over the last few seasons.
With the emergence of these young players, the ATP World Tour now features more depth than it ever has. Even in the nether regions of the top-100 rankings, there exist young players who can shock the world’s best on any day.
Grigor Dimitrov and Milos Raonic have long been hailed as the next big tennis stars, and their results so far have backed up the hype. But to make good on that promise, they’ll have to finally break through and win a major.
Teenagers like Nick Kyrgios and Borna Coric aren't as far along in their development as Dimitrov or Raonic are, yet in their short professional careers, they've both shown the ability to produce monumental upsets.
Big hitters like Bernard Tomic and Jack Sock have also flashed serious game over the years. Joining them on the list of top young talents is the sinewy David Goffin, who grinds away at less-glitzy tournaments and racks up wins and confidence.
The following slides will examine what makes these players the best talents under 25 while also highlighting other prospects on the rise. Be prepared to hear these names often over the next few years.
10. Pablo Carreno Busta
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Age: 23
Current Rank: 56
Spain has been a breeding ground for top-quality players over the last decade, and the next one may be Pablo Carreno Busta.
Carreno Busta made his biggest leap in 2013, skyrocketing from No. 654 to No. 66 in the rankings and winning that year's Most Improved Player of the Year award based off his success at the Futures and Challenger levels.
In 2014, Carreno Busta spent his first full year on the ATP World Tour with notable results, including a third-round finish at the U.S. Open. He also defeated top-20 players Kevin Anderson and Gael Monfils in Monte Carlo before falling to Djokovic in the third round.
The red clay is like a second home for Carreno Busta. It's his most comfortable surface, and the dirt rewards his game. What he lacks in power and flash he overcomes with grit and patience.
Carreno Busta may not have overwhelming talent like his peers do, but his consistent baseline game and clay-court prowess make him a player who should hover around the top 30 in the future.
9. Jack Sock
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Age: 22
Current Rank: 53
The last 11 years haven’t been kind to male tennis players from the United States.
Since Andy Roddick’s win at the U.S. Open in 2003, no American male has claimed a Grand Slam title. Gone are the days when John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, among others, ruled the game.
It’s tough to see an end to that drought coming anytime soon, but the guy who currently represents the best hope is Jack Sock.
The 22-year-old Nebraskan plays a game built on powerful, flat serves and even bigger forehands—shades of Roddick. Sock's not shy about coming to the net, either, and he's proved himself to be a solid volleyer.
He's honed those net skills in doubles, winning the 2011 U.S. Open mixed title with Melanie Oudin and the 2014 Wimbledon title with Vasek Pospisil.
While Sock has found success in doubles, he's still searching for a breakthrough moment in singles. His best result at a Grand Slam is a third-round finish, which he accomplished at both the 2012 U.S. Open and the 2014 French Open.
Once Sock returns to the court from offseason hip surgery, his primary goal will be to gain more experience at Masters Series events and majors. Once he does, Sock could develop into a top-20 player over the next few years.
8. Borna Coric
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Age: 18
Current Rank: 85
Beating Nadal isn't an easy task. In fact, it may be one of the toughest tasks in tennis history. So when a 17-year-old topped the Spaniard in straight sets last fall, it raised more than a few eyebrows.
That's exactly what Borna Coric did in Basel last October when he defeated Nadal 6-2, 7-6 (4) before a stunned Swiss crowd. While Nadal had been battling appendicitis and was far from 100 percent, credit the teenager for handling his emotions, grabbing the opportunity and running with it.
Coric, the 2013 Junior U.S. Open champion, spent most of 2014 grinding away on the Futures and Challenger circuits. But he made the most of his time with the pros, reaching the semifinals in Basel as well as the second round of the U.S. Open. For his efforts, Coric was given the 2014 ATP Star of Tomorrow Award.
While Coric still has a long way to go in his development, he already has a champion's swagger. He truly believes in himself, and the importance of that quality can't be overstated. As he matures over the next few years, there will be plenty of ups and downs. But if he can balance that confidence with a professional demeanor, Coric can be a star.
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7. David Goffin
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Age: 24
Current Rank: 20
No player had a hotter run last year than David Goffin had.
The Belgian went 34-2 between July and October, with a 25-match win streak during that span. As the wins piled up, Goffin surged in the rankings from No. 113 last January to No. 22 at the end of the year. It's no surprise that Goffin won the Comeback Player of the Year award.
But Goffin's historic run came with a huge caveat: Most of his wins came in Challenger events.
It was a ploy by Goffin and his coach to build confidence and earn precious rankings points. And it worked. The more he won on the small stages, the better he played at bigger tournaments.
He captured his first ATP titles last year at Kitzbuhel and Metz, but his best result was a runner-up finish to Federer in Basel. That week, Goffin impressively took out Raonic on the way to his first 500 Series final.
Standing 5'11" with a slight frame, Goffin won't blow anyone away with physicality. Instead, he makes his mark by playing a consistent and crafty baseline game that wears down lesser opponents.
For Goffin, the next step is converting success at smaller tournaments into more wins at the Masters Series and Grand Slam events. He's proved his mark in the minor leagues of tennis, but he's still searching for consistent results against top-flight players.
6. Jiri Vesely
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Age: 21
Current Rank: 45
Winning a tournament for the first time is an important milestone for any professional tennis player. Besides prize money and rankings points, it brings validation and the knowledge that your game can hold up over the course of a tournament.
Jiri Vesely reached that moment earlier this year.
The young Czech won his first ATP title in January at the Heineken Open, scoring upsets over Ernests Gulbis and Kevin Anderson on his way to a dominant win over Adrian Mannarino in the final. Vesely had to qualify just to play in Auckland, but he charged through for the trophy and a career-best No. 39 ranking.
Vesely is no stranger to success. He did previously win the 2011 Junior Australian Open and the 2013 ATP Star of Tomorrow Award.
Before his run in Auckland, Vesely made noise at Wimbledon last summer by taking out Monfils in an epic five-set match. Though he lost to fellow youngster Kyrgios in the third round, the result was his best finish yet at a major.
With a booming serve and powerful baseline game, the tall and lanky Vesely plays like a lefty version of Juan Martin del Potro. But he's also surprisingly quick and fleet of foot for a 6'6" guy. That skill set makes him an intriguing prospect to watch in the coming years.
5. Dominic Thiem
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Age: 21
Current Rank: 47
Juggling two jobs is tough. Just ask Dominic Thiem.
The 21-year-old is currently serving a mandatory six-month stint in his country's army. But when he's away from the barracks, Thiem represents Austria's greatest tennis hope.
Last year was his first full season on the ATP World Tour, but you wouldn't know it by the way he played. While his 22-23 record wasn't remarkable, he earned several important wins, including a defeat of Stan Wawrinka in Madrid, his first victory over a top-10 player.
Thiem showed glimpses of his talent in a second-round loss to Nadal at the French Open, though his best run came in New York.
At the U.S. Open, Thiem blew past friend and hitting partner Gulbis in the second round on the way to his first Grand Slam fourth-round finish. Tomas Berdych proved too hard to handle, but Thiem proved himself as a player with massive potential.
Featuring a stout one-handed backhand, he can rip crosscourt or up the line for winners. Thiem has a versatile game and is a quick mover. He can adapt that skill set to any surface and opponent. A tireless worker, Thiem should continue his climb up the rankings in 2015.
4. Bernard Tomic
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Age: 22
Current Rank: 49
When Bernard Tomic is focused and motivated, he can cause trouble for any player in the world.
The problem is that he can't consistently reach his best level.
He's shown a general lack of maturity at times and battled through personal turmoil, but the talent is undeniable. When Tomic's game is clicking, the Aussie produces breathtaking tennis and is able to make highlight-reel shots from anywhere on the court. He has tremendous power and can hold his own against anyone from the baseline.
Some players just have a knack for flair. That's Tomic, who reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2011 at the age of 18. While he hasn't equaled that result since, Tomic did advance to the fourth round at the All England Club in 2013 and at the Australian Open in both 2012 and 2015.
While Tomic's antics away from the game have made noise over the last few years and hindered his progress, he has won two titles already in his career—at Sydney in 2013 and at Bogota last year. But he hasn't found much luck at the Masters Series level, never advancing past the third round at any of the events.
After a nightmarish 2014 season, when he went 17-15 and battled injuries, Tomic has started to rebound in 2015. So far this year, he's posted a 7-3 record, including that fourth-round run in Australia.
Now 22, Tomic seems to have finally changed his approach and matured off the court. If he's truly found emotional stability, Tomic has the talent to make noise once again at majors.
3. Nick Kyrgios
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Age: 19
Current Rank: 36
In 2001, a 19-year-old Roger Federer made two Grand Slam quarterfinals. No other teenager could say the same until Nick Kyrgios matched that mark at this year's Australian Open.
Kyrgios' first taste of success came last summer, when he shocked Nadal in the fourth round of Wimbledon. Playing just his fifth major tournament, no one expected the young Aussie to take out Nadal. But Kyrgios played brilliant tennis far beyond what his limited experience would suggest was possible.
At this year's Australian Open, he again reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal, surviving an epic fourth-round match against Andreas Seppi before a raucous home crowd. Though he fell in straight sets to Murray in the quarterfinals—just like at Wimbledon last year—Kyrgios backed up that win over Nadal.
He's no fluke.
The Aussie has a huge game. He's a power baseliner who can hit winners from anywhere. Kyrgios is capable of making jaws drop and opponents suffer with incredible shot-making. Fitness is a question mark at this stage, but once he puts more gym work in, it will accentuate his stellar athleticism.
At times, Kyrgios plays like a younger version of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga—but with even more confidence. He's definitely not shy about expressing himself with his fashion statements and on-court demeanor.
What Kyrgios lacks most right now is experience. He's still only played one Masters Series event in his career, yet he's already circling a top-30 ranking. As he gets more match play under his belt and develops his game and body, Kyrgios should soon challenge for a top-10 ranking and even more Grand Slam glory.
2. Milos Raonic
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Age: 24
Current Rank: 6
When Milos Raonic hits a tennis ball, the ensuing sound is enough to rattle any opponent.
Raonic boasts arguably the best serve in the world. He can hit 140 mph on the radar gun with effortless ease and make even the best returners look helpless. But there’s more to his game than just that shot.
A huge forehand gives the Canadian a dynamic one-two punch in his service game. That combination carries him into tiebreak after tiebreak. Winning free points off serves and forehands is crucial for Raonic, who’s still developing the other parts of his game.
There's some bad news for the other guys on tour: He’s starting to put together a full arsenal of weapons.
At 6’5”, the long-legged Raonic isn't a natural mover. But footwork and flexibility are areas of his repertoire that he’s vastly improved over the last several months. As he’s dropped weight and built up his lower-body strength, his court movement is no longer a weakness.
Being able to get into position for more forehands is a huge plus. To take the next step, however, he’ll have to continue working on his backhand.
When returning serves and engaged in extended rallies, Raonic’s backhand puts him at a steep disadvantage. It’s no wonder he plays so many tiebreaks. Over the last year, Raonic has started to play better from that wing and seems more confident with the shot, but it’s still an area that can be exploited by his rivals.
Raonic is starting to turn the corner. He’s made the quarterfinals at three of the last four Grand Slams—including the semifinals at Wimbledon last year—and at seven of his nine Masters Series events in 2014.
He’s close to winning big titles. Now, Raonic will have to find a way to beat the Big Four at a major. One win against any of them could be enough to push him over the top.
1. Grigor Dimitrov
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Age: 23
Current Rank: 11
Whenever your game is compared to Roger Federer’s, you’re doing something right.
Grigor Dimitrov plays an all-court style reminiscent of the Swiss great. He has a fluid one-handed backhand that he loves to slice and chip. He can flatten out his forehand or hit with spin, and he's not shy about using the shot to attack and come to the net.
But Dimitrov's greatest asset may be his athleticism. He can fly around the court with the aid of his catlike quickness and agility. Like Djokovic, he has great anticipation and loves to slide into shots—even on hard courts.
With the aid of coach Roger Rasheed, Dimitrov has turned fitness into a major strength. He's able to last longer in physical matches and go further in tournaments. Rasheed has helped transform Dimitrov's game, and the process is paying off with victories.
Last year, Dimitrov made his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon after crushing defending-champion Murray. He then lost a tight match to Djokovic, but the result helped him crack the top 10 for the first time in his career.
His 50-18 record didn't come to fruition by accident. He won three titles last year—all on different surfaces. From the hard courts in Acapulco to the clay in Bucharest and the grass at Queen's Club, the Bulgarian adapted his game no matter the setting. His talent is undeniable and transcends court composition.
It takes a special talent to transition between surfaces like Dimitrov does.
But the player once nicknamed "Showtime" proved his worth under the bright lights outside of Wimbledon, also reaching the quarterfinals in Australia and the semifinals in Rome and Canada.
He fell just short of qualifying for his first appearance at the World Tour Championships, but he could hit that milestone this year with more consistent success at the Masters Series level.
Dimitrov has looked strong to start 2015, reaching the semifinals in Brisbane and the fourth round of the Australian Open. While Federer and Murray knocked him out of those tournaments, he's building momentum for another strong season.
No other player on this list can match Dimitrov's talent. Unlike Raonic, he doesn't have a dominant serve yet, but he has a more complete game. The two will relentlessly compete for titles over the next several years, but Dimitrov may break through sooner for that elusive maiden Grand Slam.
Joe Kennard is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
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