Top five young women’s singles tennis players to watch out for in 2024

Some of the players in the list are already Grand Slam winners.

The world of tennis is witnessing a significant transition as many renowned players from the past two decades retire, and a few are nearing the end of their illustrious careers. Meanwhile, the younger generation, long groomed to take over the reins, stands poised for a breakthrough. The upcoming season could see a major reshuffle in the women’s tennis rankings, with several promising players expected to rise to prominence.

In recent seasons, teenagers have competed for the top WTA titles. At least one teenager has won a Grand Slam in four of the last five years, and there’s a strong possibility that this trend may continue in the ongoing season.

Here is a look at the young women’s singles players who are expected to rise to prominence in the near future!

Coco Gauff (20)

Coco Gauff’s name is synonymous with the rising stars of women’s singles tennis. The 2023 season was pivotal for her, a year filled with high expectations. Initially, her chances of fulfilling her Grand Slam dreams seemed slim. Yet, a remarkable late season rally elevated Coco Gauff to the upper echelons of women’s tennis, salvaging her year.

The 2023 US Open witnessed Gauff’s historic triumph, ending a six-year drought for a homegrown champion. Competing as the youngest finalist since Serena Williams in 2001, Gauff overcame a challenging start, losing the first set to Aryna Sabalenka. Undeterred, she staged a stunning comeback to secure her inaugural Grand Slam title.

At barely 20, Gauff is already a newfound leader in the sport after his performance in the finals attracted many viewers.

Mirra Andreeva (16)

At just 16, Mirra Andreeva is the youngest star in the WTA’s top 100 singles rankings, even outpacing her older sister, Erika, who is yet to break into the top 100. Mirra’s rise has been meteoric, skyrocketing from 405 to 46 in just one year.

Her standout moment came at 15, when she won a match at the WTA 1000 event in Madrid, becoming the third-youngest player to do so. It was a big deal and really put her on the map.

Last year, she charmed tennis fans by making it to the fourth round of Wimbledon, almost beating Madison Keys to get into the quarterfinals. She’s the third-youngest player to get that far at Wimbledon since the Open Era began, joining the ranks of a legend like Kim Clijsters and star Coco Gauff. This young player is definitely one to watch.

Marketa Vondrousova (24)

Before her stunning championship win at Wimbledon in 2023, the Czech Republic’s tattooed tennis ace was already on a steady climb to the top. In 2019, she reached the French Open final only to be outplayed by the then-emerging Ashleigh Barty, who took the match in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3.

A few years down the line, Marketa Vondrousova shone again at the Tokyo Olympics, reaching the final but falling to Belinda Bencic. Now 24, she’s not only a Grand Slam champion but also the 2019 French Open runner-up and a silver medalist from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Currently ranked eighth, she’s been as high as six in the WTA rankings.

Qinwen Zheng (21)

Qinwen Zheng has been confounding her opponents with a powerful serve and a high-spinning forehand. At just 21, this Chinese player is exceptionally talented, relying on her quickness to dominate points right off the serve. She has clinched two WTA titles and currently holds the world No. 15 rank. Entering the 2022 season within the top 30, Zheng has only continued to rise.

Her Genius was evident in matches against top-tier players like Iga Swiatek. Zheng’s most notable Grand Slam performance came at the US Open in 2023, where she reached the quarterfinals before being ousted by the world No. 2, Aryna Sabalenka. However, her breakthrough moment arrived at this year’s Australian Open. At 21, Zheng advanced to her first Grand Slam final, only to be overpowered by her rival, Aryna Sabalenka, in a decisive match.

Linda Noskova (19)

Linda Noskova made it to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open with her valiant tennis performance, which included outhitting the four-time major champion, Iga Swiatek, shocking everyone.

The teenage player ranked 28th in the world made her Australian Open debut with her first-ever match at Rod Laver Arena. She ended heavy favourite Iga Swiatek’s 18-match winning streak by hitting 35 wins past World No. 1. She broke into the world’s top 100 players’ rankings in August 2022 and the top 50 players’ rankings in February 2023.

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