Tennis has already featured in many headlines this year for stories on and off the court. We have also enjoyed the first major of 2022 with Rafael Nadal sensationally winning the men’s tournament at the Australian Open – and homegrown star Ashleigh Barty claiming the women’s title.
Those who know how to bet on sports may well be keeping those names in mind when it comes to future competitions. But there are some very interesting players, in both the men’s and women’s games, that could enjoy a very successful year. Here are five tennis players to watch out for in 2022.
Casper Ruud, Norway
The most successful and exciting Norwegian tennis prospect since his father played in the 1990s, Casper Rudd has cultivated a sense of anticipation around his potential in winning five titles on the ATP Tour last year. His attacking style of play has seen him climb the rankings and promises much more for the future.
His performances earned him a place at his first ever ATP Finals last year, where he went all the way to the semifinal before losing out to Daniil Medvedev. He was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open with an ankle injury in January, but had been seeded eighth and should come back even better.
Coco Gauff, USA
Cori ‘Coco’ Gauf will only turn 18 in March but has already proved that she has a long and successful tennis career ahead of her. Gauf made her WTA Tour debut in 2019 at the age of 15 and made it through to the fourth round of Wimbledon that year, winning a legion of fans on the way.
Gauf is just as adept in the doubles game and has four career titles to date. She tailed off a little towards the end of last year but is still the youngest player ranked in the top 100. She suffered a disappointing first round exit in the Australian Open but is sure to bounce back in 2022.
Carlos Alcaraz, Spain
It is not only because Carlos Alcaraz is Spanish that he has been compared to the great Rafa Nadal. His playing style is similar and he became the youngest Spaniard to win an ATP Tour title since the great man last July. His most famous victory to date is beating world number three, Stefanos Tsitsipas at the US Open last year.
He was seeded for the first time at a major at this year’s Australian Open and made it to the third round – but there are high hopes in his homeland that he will soon be emulating his greatest predecessor. Nadal won his first Grand Slam title at the age of 19 and Alcaraz reaches that milestone in July.
Maria Sakkari, Greece
Tsitsipas might be the big Greek hope in the men’s game, but it is Maria Sakkari that is taking the women’s by storm, after enjoying an incredible season in 2021. The powerful server made it to the semifinals of the French and US Opens and broke into the top ten.
Her aggressive style of play has already caused opponents problems and that seems only set to continue in 2022. Sakkari departed the 2022 Australian Open in the fourth round, missing out on the opportunity to test herself against eventual champion Ashleigh Barty. But it feels like she will have plenty more opportunities for success.
Felix Auger-Aliassime, Canada
This tall Canadian has long been tipped for success after excelling at a junior level. He reached three ATP finals in 2019 and 2020, but it was last year when he really burst onto the main stage, reaching the quarterfinal of Wimbledon and the semifinal of the US Open.
Some questioned his ability to come through on the tour even though he took Daniil Medvedev to five sets in the quarterfinal of the Australian Open in January – and managed to win the first set. But he will surely soon be winning Grand Slam titles and become one of the best players in the game.