The WTA is seems to be set for the change of guard. With long time greats like Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova and many more at the fag end of their career, the stage looks set for new players to take over. There has been plenty of tennis talent coming in the Women’s circuit and some youngsters have already tasted the grand slam success. We look at 5 such players who have the potential to be the future stars of Women’s tennis.
5. Belinda Bencic
This 22 year old Swiss seems to be following the footsteps of her idol and co-patriot Martina Hingis. The 22 year old already has 4 career titles and is now established himself in the Top 10 of WTA ranking.
Bencic finished 2019 at World Number 8 and came close to the Grand Slam success reaching the US Open semi-final only to be defeated by the eventual champion Bianca Andreescu.
Belinda’s association with fellow Swiss great Roger Federer in the Hopman Cup is also having a positive effect on her game. She is regarded as a potential future Grand Slam winner.
4. Jeļena Ostapenko
Ostapenko raised sensations in the tennis world in 2017 when she became the 1st Latvian male or female to win a singles Grand Slam. She did so at Roland Garros at the age of 20. Ostapenko being an excellent baseline hard-hitter is expected to excel on clay in future also.
She is also raising her game on other surfaces and has also reached Wimbledon 2018 semi-final. The Latvian is currently ranking as World Number 19. Her game was affected in 2019 due to regular injuries. A healthy Ostapenko is expected to touch new records in the year 2020 and beyond.
3. Bianca Andreescu
Andreescu had the biggest moment of her career when she lifted the US Open 2019. The Canadian star began show glimpses of greatness since 2017 only to be struck by injuries.
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She had health concerns in 2019 also but still managed to win a Grand Slam and 2 Masters 1000 titles. Andreescu is yet to turn 20 and has finished the year 2019 at World Number 5. She is being labelled as the future tennis legend if she manages to keep up the same level.
2. Ashleigh Barty
The 23 year old Queenslander was the player of 2019 in Women’s tennis. She won her 1st Grand Slam at Roland Garros 2019, won the WTA year end finale and also finished the year as the World Number 1.
Barty who is just 23 already has 7 WTA titles to her name including a Grand Slam and a Master 1000 trophy, which she won at the Miami Open.
1. Naomi Osaka
In September 2018, Naomi Osaka became the 1st Japanese player to win a singles Grand Slam. She repeated the triumph in January 2019 when she won the Australian Open.
Osaka a former World Number 1 might have struggled in later half of 2019 but she has plenty of talent to stage a strong comeback in 2020. The 23 year old Japanese is one of the future starts at the WTA circuit and is expected to be a multiple time Grand Slam winner.