Who will finish in the top eight of the ATP and WTA tours? Our panel of experts, including Tim Henman and Laura Robson, predict what will happen in 2025.
The Australian Open has come to an end so it is time to get down to action from the men’s and women’s tours on Sky Sports Tennis.
We asked our panel to predict their top eight ahead of what should be another exciting season which will take us through the hard-court, clay, grass and indoor season.
Gigi Salmon
WTA
- Aryna Sabalenka
- Coco Gauff
- Iga Swiatek
- Qinwen Zheng
- Elena Rybakina
- Emma Navarro
- Karolina Muchova
- Paula Badosa
- Wildcard pick – Diana Shnaider
Why will Sabalenka finish No 1?
“She continues to go from strength to strength, with no obvious weaknesses in her game. She seems settled on and off court with the people around her. Swiatek is going through a period of transition with a new team and while I think Gauff could be her closest challenger which is why I think Sabalenka will hold everyone off.”
Gigi’s wildcard pick…
Diana Shnaider is Gigi Salmon’s wildcard pick
“Shnaider is such a talent and still so young. She has a lot of fun out on court and has a big game. Her father is a more permanent part of her team this year which could add stability and I would also like to see her continue on from where she left off on 2024.”
ATP
- Carlos Alcaraz
- Alexander ‘Sascha’ Zverev
- Jannik Sinner
- Daniil Medvedev
- Taylor Fritz
- Casper Ruud
- Arthur Fils
- Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
- Wildcard pick – Jack Draper
Why will Alcaraz finish No 1?
Carlos Alcaraz is a great problem solver
“Alcaraz has two Grand Slams to defend but he has tailed off at the back end of last year due to overplaying and illness, but he is really good at working out problems and learning from what didn’t go right.”
Gigi’s wildcard pick…
Jack Draper reached the semi-finals of last year’s US Open
“I couldn’t quite sneak Draper into the top eight, but if he can stay fit, build on what he did last year and cope with the pressure of defending points then I think he could be there or thereabouts.”
Tim Henman
WTA
- Swiatek
- Sabalenka
- Gauff
- Zheng
- Rybakina
- Osaka
- Muchova
- M Andreeva
- Wildcard pick – Ons Jabeur
Tim Henman thinks queen of bagels Iga Swiatek will finish the year as world No 1
ATP
- Alcaraz
- Sinner
- Zverev
- Medvedev
- Fritz
- Rublev
- Rune
- Ruud
- Wildcard pick – Draper
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Jack Draper sat down with Gigi Salmon to discuss his career so far, dealing with the demands of the ATP Tour and fulfilling his potential in 2025
Laura Robson
WTA
- Sabalenka
- Swiatek
- Gauff
- Zheng
- Rybakina
- Paolini
- Muchova
- Pegula
- Wildcard pick – Mirra Andreeva
Teenager Mirra Andreeva is Laura Robson’s wildcard pick
ATP
- Alcaraz
- Sinner
- Zverev
- Djokovic
- Fritz
- Ruud
- Medvedev
- Gigor Dimitrov
Jonathan Overend
WTA
- Sabalenka
- Zheng
- Gauff
- Swiatek
- Rybakina
- M Andreeva
- Badosa
- Muchova
- Wildcard pick: Boulter
Why will Sabalenka finish No 1?
“Sabalenka, I confidently predict, will be named by everyone as the WTA No 1. Normally, in these instances, I scramble for a contrary viewpoint! While I think Zheng and Gauff will continue their progress and move above Swiatek, I don’t think they’ll win enough to displace Aryna, who is clearly the best player in the world right now.”
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Both Tim Henman and Laura Robson selected Draper as their most improved player of the 2024 ATP season
ATP
- Alcaraz
- Zverev
- Sinner
- Fritz
- Djokovic
- Medvedev
- Rublev
- Fils
- Wildcard pick: Draper
Why will Alcaraz finish No 1?
“I’m going leftfield on the ATP. I mean, why not? Anything to be different to Henman. On the not-illogical-assumption that Sinner won’t win as much as he did in 2024, I’m putting Alcaraz as No 1.”
Jonathan’s wildcard picks
“Overcome with patriotism when put on the spot by Gigi in our end-of-season review show, I predicted that Britain would sensationally have a Wimbledon finalist in 2025!
“So I’m turning blind optimism into some form of strategic logic by declaring Boulter, Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper as all being capable.
“I’ll plump for the two British No 1s as my Wimbledon outside bets and therefore put them both as my gatecrashers into the top 10 by the end of the season. Good luck Katie and Jack – and if it’s Emma I’ll be equally delighted!
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Jack Draper defeated Karen Khachanov to win the Vienna Open
Naomi Broady
WTA
- Gauff
- Sabalenka
- Swiatek
- Zheng
- Rybakina
- Osaka
- Badosa
- Muchova
- Wildcard pick – Pegula
ATP
- Alcaraz
- Sinner
- Djokovic
- Zverev
- Medvedev
- Rublev
- Fritz
- De Minaur
- Wildcard pick – Tsitsipas
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Coco Gauff ended 2024 by winning the WTA Finals against Qinwen Zheng
Naomi Cavaday
WTA
- Sabalenka
- Zheng
- Swiatek
- Rybakina
- Gauff
- Badosa
- Schnaider
- Andreeva
- Wildcard pick – Raducanu
Why will Sabalenka finish No 1?
“Sabalenka is comfortably the best hard-court player in the world and although she has missed two of the last four years at Wimbledon, I can confidently assume she is the best grass court player in the world. She is my world No 1.”
Naomi’s wildcard pick…
“Can Emma Raducanu stay fit for a whole season? With a new fitness coach on board this is looking more likely and, if she can, she has a big result in her and a chance to knock on the door of the top 10.
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Speaking at the US Open tennis legend Martina Navratilova said Emma Raducanu should take ownership of her tennis career
ATP
- Alcaraz
- Sinner
- Zverev
- Djokovic
- Fritz
- Medvedev
- Ruud
- Draper
- Wildcard pick – Jakub Mensik
Czech Jakub Mensik is a prodigious talent at the age of 19
Why will Alcaraz finish No 1?
“Alcaraz seemed a little unsettled through the 2024 season but still managed to win two Grand Slams and beat Sinner in all three meetings. A refreshed Alcaraz could see him dominate in 2025 and stretch away at the top of the rankings.
Naomi’s wildcard pick…
“Mensik has been making waves at just 19 years old. An exciting talent, he is my pick to fly up the rankings the fastest. He’s already got the physicality to live with the top guys, so it is just a matter of time before he joins them.”
Digital Sports Journalist Raz Mirza
WTA
- Sabalenka
- Swiatek
- Gauff
- Zheng
- Pegula
- Rybakina
- Paolini
- Navarro
- Wildcard pick: Badosa
Why will Sabalenka finish No 1?
“She’s gone from strength to strength in the last 12 months, soaring above Swiatek with Gauff and Zheng – arguably her greatest challengers now.”
Raz’s wildcard pick…
“Went for Badosa, based on her run of results last last year. She’s getting close to the form which saw her reach a career-high No 2 in April 2022.”
Paula Badosa is a former world No 2 and is making her way back after a string of injury problems
ATP
- Sinner
- Alcaraz
- Zverev
- Fritz
- Ruud
- Medvedev
- Djokovic
- De Minaur
- Wildcard pick: Perricard
Why will Sinner finish No 1?
“His performances at the US Open were head and shoulders above everyone else and he cemented his spot at the top of the tree with a run of unerring displays at the ATP Finals in Turin. Alcaraz will no doubt run him close, but the Italian’s overall game is currently just too strong for the rest of the chasing pack.”
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is enjoying a rapid rise after clinching his maiden tour-level title in his home town of Lyon and followed it up with a first ATP 500 triumph in Basel in 2024
Raz’s wildcard pick…
“Watch out for Perricard and his 144mph serves. He stands at 6ft 8in and is smooth as silk on court, with weapons that can destroy any opponent. He’s climbing up the rankings at a rate of knots too. The French may have found their jewel in the crown and a potential future Roland Garros champion?”
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