Novak Djokovic retires from tennis, Coco Gauff crowned world No 1, Jack Draper’s rankings breakthrough – 2025 predictions

The 2024 tennis year ended amid emotional scenes in Malaga, as Rafael Nadal called time on his historic career and tennis bid farewell to one of its all-time greats.

Now a new tennis year beckons and there is every chance it could include the retirement of the last of the ‘Big 3’ in the men’s game, with Novak Djokovic casting doubt over how long he will continue to play in numerous interviews in recent months.

The next generation is bursting through the tennis ranks and after the last 12 months was dominated by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, 2025 looks set to feature a host of rising stars challenging for the top titles in the game.

Here is your Tennis365 guide to some of the stories to look out for in the next tennis year:

Novak Djokovic to retire

What more can Novak Djokovic reach out for?

The 24-time Grand Slam champion admitted repeatedly through the last 12 months that his motivation to continue at the top of the sport is waning, with his gold medal success at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games the final big target in his remarkable career.

He pulled out of numerous tournaments in recent months and at the age of 37, the Serbian legend will be considering a date to call time on his career.

His move to hire former rival Andy Murray as a coach for his Australian Open push confirms he is trying to reignite the flame inside him and he has suggested a second Davis Cup win with Serbia is also a big motivation.

Yet when Djokovic gets on court and those motivation issues start to impact him again, it may not take him long to realise his tennis story is coming to an end.

Serbia have been a tough draw for the Davis Cup opening tie against Denmark next month and Carlos Alcaraz’s Spain may be waiting in the second qualifying round, so any thoughts of him finishing his career with a win for his country may be scuppered.

So if Djokovic does not feel the passion that has driven him to the top returning in the first half of 2025, don’t be surprised to see him leave the tennis stage and end the era of the ‘Big 3’ once and for all.

Coco Gauff is crowned

Coco Gauff has been the world No 1 player in doubles and next year, she could also climb to the top of the singles rankings.

The 2023 US Open champion climbed to a career-high ranking of No 2 last June and she finished the season on a real high by winning the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia.

Gauff still has weaknesses in her game and that is inevitable at the tender age of 20, with her serving issues tripping her up time and again in recent months.

Her US Open defence was undermined by those serving jitters and they were in evidence once again at the WTA Finals, even though she ended up lifting the title.

If Gauff can find a solution to her serving issues and file down the frayed edges on her forehand, this powerhouse performer has proved she is one of the few players in the women’s game who can out-hit world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka from the back of the court.

The finished version of Gauff may materialise in the next couple of years and that should be a player who has the ability to climb to the top of the world rankings.

Draper’s big chance
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz may have stolen a march in the battle to be the next leaders in men’s tennis by claiming the four Grand Slam titles in 2024, yet Britain’s Jack Draper has made it clear that he wants to get in on their party next year.

The Brit’s run to the US Open semi-finals in August was the highlight of a season that also saw him win his first ATP Tour title in Stuttgart last June, with his win in the ATP 500 tournament in Vienna another highlight.

Some of the tennis Draper produced in Vienna was befitting of a top-five player and while a place in the top 10 is his stated target for next year, he could aim for more.

He was beaten in the second round of the Australian Open last year, lost in the first round at the French Open and was beaten by his fellow Brit Cameron Norrie in the second round at Wimbledon last July.

The limited rankings points he collected in those three Grand Slam events give him a chance to take big strides forward in the rankings, with his early defeats in the Indian Wells and Miami Masters events last March offering him more chances to leap into the top 10 when those tournaments come around once again.

The key for Draper is his fitness and he is working hard in the off-season to ensure his body is ready to cope with the demands of tour life, which has been a challenge for him so far in his career.

Draper should be a contender to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open in 2025 and if he gets there, his power-packed game has the potential to trouble any opponent, including Alcaraz and Sinner.