Amanda Anisimova. She became the youngest player in more than a decade to reach the French Open semi-finals when she defeated defending champion Simona Halep in last year’s quarters. It was by no means a fluke: Anisimova, 18, has proved her talent on clay, winning her first career title on the surface in Colombia last April, having reached three ITF finals in 2017 as a 15-year-old. Injuries have become a minor concern, but she is still young and growing. The world No 28 has all the talent to become a future French Open champion. AFP
Stefanos Tsitsipas. One of the most exciting talents leading the charge for the next generation, Stefanos Tstsipas looks a major champion in waiting. While that breakthrough is perhaps more likely at the hardcourt Grand Slams of Australia and the US, the Greek world No 6 has proved his credentials on the clay, too, winning the Estoril title in 2019 and reaching the Barcelona Open and Madrid Masters finals in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Given his dedication to the sport, 21-year-old Tsitsipas should be right in the mix for years to come.
Getty Images
Alexander Zverev. With all he has achieved so far, it’s hard to believe Alexander Zverev is still only 22-years old. Winner of 11 titles already, including five on clay, Zverev has also experienced his first career dip but looks to be back on course and is nestled in the top 10 at No 7. The German’s Grand Slam record has been held against him, but a semi-final appearance last time out in Melbourne and successive quarter-finals in Paris suggest he is putting that right. When his game is on point, few can hang with him and the French Open is primed for his major breakthrough. AFP
Felix Auger-Aliassime. After a stunning emergence during the first half of 2019 that saw him reach three finals, including two on clay, and his first Masters semi-final, Felix Auger-Aliassime went a bit off the boil for the next six months, although he has rebounded with two finals in 2020 before the season was halted. The 19-year-old Canadian, ranked No 17, has not made much headway in the bigger clay court tournaments just yet, but it is surely a matter of time. He is a supreme talent and athlete whose game should suit all surfaces throughout his career. AFP
Christian Garin. He looks to be the archetypal South American tennis player. In other words, sublime on the clay but struggles to make the same impact on other surfaces. A winner of four titles already – all on clay, of course – the 23-year-old Chilean has surged up the world rankings since the start of 2019, rising from No 95 to No 17. Does he have the tools to land a major prize? Tough to say, but given his proven credentials on clay, he is one to keep an eye on in the coming years.
Jannik Sinner. Entered into the 2019 NextGen Finals as host nation Italy’s wildcard, Sinner stormed his way to the title, despite being the youngest player in the field. The 18-year-old has since earned his first win over a top-10 player when he beat David Goffin in Rotterdam in February. Still very much a raw talent, Sinner has remarkable shot-striking ability and if he can refine his game over the next few years, he is in line to be a future French Open contender. Panoramic
Sofia Kenin. She has certainly proved her pedigree on the hard courts, none more so than her march to a maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. The 21-year-old American, ranked No 4, has not made much of a stamp on clay court events, but given her strong all-round game, fine baseline hitting, and impressive endurance, she appears tailor-made for a run at the French Open in the future. AFP
Marketa Vondrousova. She was one win away from excluding herself from this list having reached the 2019 French Open final. While Ashleigh Barty proved too tall an obstacle, the 20-year-old Czech looks set to be a consistent contender at Roland Garros. She accumulated a 15-3 win-loss record on clay during 2019, reaching a further two finals, in Budapest and Istanbul, although her only career title so far came on the Biel/Bienne hard courts in 2017. Vondrousova, ranked No 18, looks set for a long and successful career and the French Open appears her best shot at landing a major title. Getty
Coco Gauff. The most famous 16-year-old tennis player in the world, Coco Gauff made global headlines for her run to the Wimbledon fourth round as a 15-year-old. While still very young, her maturity on and off the court belies her age and she appears on course to be one of the next big stars of the future. How she handles the pressure and expectations will likely define her career. AFP
Belinda Bencic. Another of those players who achieved so much so young that it’s hard to believe she is still only 23. Belinda Bencic’s career was almost cut short by long-term injury, but the Swiss has clawed her way back into the top 10 and enjoyed something of a breakthrough 2019, reaching four semi-finals – including her first at a Grand Slam at the US Open – and ending a four-year wait between titles in Dubai. While clay has never been her preferred surface, Bencic’s game is well suited to the red dust and there is a sense that there is another level to her game she can unlock over the next few years. Reuters
Amanda Anisimova. She became the youngest player in more than a decade to reach the French Open semi-finals when she defeated defending champion Simona Halep in last year’s quarters. It was by no means a fluke: Anisimova, 18, has proved her talent on clay, winning her first career title on the surface in Colombia last April, having reached three ITF finals in 2017 as a 15-year-old. Injuries have become a minor concern, but she is still young and growing. The world No 28 has all the talent to become a future French Open champion. AFP
Stefanos Tsitsipas. One of the most exciting talents leading the charge for the next generation, Stefanos Tstsipas looks a major champion in waiting. While that breakthrough is perhaps more likely at the hardcourt Grand Slams of Australia and the US, the Greek world No 6 has proved his credentials on the clay, too, winning the Estoril title in 2019 and reaching the Barcelona Open and Madrid Masters finals in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Given his dedication to the sport, 21-year-old Tsitsipas should be right in the mix for years to come.
Getty Images
Alexander Zverev. With all he has achieved so far, it’s hard to believe Alexander Zverev is still only 22-years old. Winner of 11 titles already, including five on clay, Zverev has also experienced his first career dip but looks to be back on course and is nestled in the top 10 at No 7. The German’s Grand Slam record has been held against him, but a semi-final appearance last time out in Melbourne and successive quarter-finals in Paris suggest he is putting that right. When his game is on point, few can hang with him and the French Open is primed for his major breakthrough. AFP
Felix Auger-Aliassime. After a stunning emergence during the first half of 2019 that saw him reach three finals, including two on clay, and his first Masters semi-final, Felix Auger-Aliassime went a bit off the boil for the next six months, although he has rebounded with two finals in 2020 before the season was halted. The 19-year-old Canadian, ranked No 17, has not made much headway in the bigger clay court tournaments just yet, but it is surely a matter of time. He is a supreme talent and athlete whose game should suit all surfaces throughout his career. AFP
Christian Garin. He looks to be the archetypal South American tennis player. In other words, sublime on the clay but struggles to make the same impact on other surfaces. A winner of four titles already – all on clay, of course – the 23-year-old Chilean has surged up the world rankings since the start of 2019, rising from No 95 to No 17. Does he have the tools to land a major prize? Tough to say, but given his proven credentials on clay, he is one to keep an eye on in the coming years.
Jannik Sinner. Entered into the 2019 NextGen Finals as host nation Italy’s wildcard, Sinner stormed his way to the title, despite being the youngest player in the field. The 18-year-old has since earned his first win over a top-10 player when he beat David Goffin in Rotterdam in February. Still very much a raw talent, Sinner has remarkable shot-striking ability and if he can refine his game over the next few years, he is in line to be a future French Open contender. Panoramic
Sofia Kenin. She has certainly proved her pedigree on the hard courts, none more so than her march to a maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. The 21-year-old American, ranked No 4, has not made much of a stamp on clay court events, but given her strong all-round game, fine baseline hitting, and impressive endurance, she appears tailor-made for a run at the French Open in the future. AFP
Marketa Vondrousova. She was one win away from excluding herself from this list having reached the 2019 French Open final. While Ashleigh Barty proved too tall an obstacle, the 20-year-old Czech looks set to be a consistent contender at Roland Garros. She accumulated a 15-3 win-loss record on clay during 2019, reaching a further two finals, in Budapest and Istanbul, although her only career title so far came on the Biel/Bienne hard courts in 2017. Vondrousova, ranked No 18, looks set for a long and successful career and the French Open appears her best shot at landing a major title. Getty
Coco Gauff. The most famous 16-year-old tennis player in the world, Coco Gauff made global headlines for her run to the Wimbledon fourth round as a 15-year-old. While still very young, her maturity on and off the court belies her age and she appears on course to be one of the next big stars of the future. How she handles the pressure and expectations will likely define her career. AFP
Belinda Bencic. Another of those players who achieved so much so young that it’s hard to believe she is still only 23. Belinda Bencic’s career was almost cut short by long-term injury, but the Swiss has clawed her way back into the top 10 and enjoyed something of a breakthrough 2019, reaching four semi-finals – including her first at a Grand Slam at the US Open – and ending a four-year wait between titles in Dubai. While clay has never been her preferred surface, Bencic’s game is well suited to the red dust and there is a sense that there is another level to her game she can unlock over the next few years. Reuters
Amanda Anisimova. She became the youngest player in more than a decade to reach the French Open semi-finals when she defeated defending champion Simona Halep in last year’s quarters. It was by no means a fluke: Anisimova, 18, has proved her talent on clay, winning her first career title on the surface in Colombia last April, having reached three ITF finals in 2017 as a 15-year-old. Injuries have become a minor concern, but she is still young and growing. The world No 28 has all the talent to become a future French Open champion. AFP
