Get ready for an exciting dive into the world of tennis! We're about to uncover some incredible stories from the past week on the court.
The Rise of the Rising Stars
Two young talents, Victoria Mboko and Janice Tjen, have taken the WTA Tour by storm, capping off their breakthrough seasons with tournament titles. But here's where it gets controversial... their journeys are a mix of substance and stardust, and we're about to explore how they got there.
Mboko, just 19, has had an incredible year. Starting at No. 350, she navigated knee injuries and a careful tournament schedule to finish 2025 as the world No. 18! Her season was a rollercoaster: 20 straight wins, close losses to top players, and a French Open run that put her on the map. And let's not forget her triumph at the Canadian Open, beating four Grand Slam champions!
Tjen, 23, had an equally impressive rise. She started the year with a 15-4 record and then went on a 27-match winning streak! From college tennis at Pepperdine to the main tour, she beat a seeded player at the US Open and then dominated the WTA 250 and 125 levels. Her journey from No. 521 to No. 53 is a testament to her talent and hard work.
Together, these two rising stars have an incredible 130 wins and only 26 defeats in 2025.
ATP Tour Race to Turin: The Final Stretch
With just a week left, the ATP Tour Race to Turin has a clear leader, but a key rule change is about to shake things up. Félix Auger-Aliassime is currently in the eighth spot, but will he qualify for the ATP Tour Finals? And what about Novak Djokovic, the wild card in this race?
Next year, the ATP 250 tournaments will no longer be part of the mad dash for points. The Paris Masters will become the cutoff, ensuring a fair and balanced preparation for the ATP Tour Finals. This change aims to prevent top players from withdrawing from 250s, as we've seen in the past few days.
The Future of Tennis: Single-Handed Backhands
In a year of breakthroughs, Loïs Boisson, Eala, Tjen, and Mboko have shown us the future of tennis. But last week, a 17-year-old Austrian, Lilli Tagger, made a significant impact.
Reaching the final of her first WTA event at the Jiangxi Open, Tagger showcased her powerful serve, baseline game, and an extremely rare single-handed backhand. With Francesca Schiavone, the last female player to win a Grand Slam with this shot, as her coach, Tagger's game is sure to turn heads.
Belinda Bencic's Comeback Story
Belinda Bencic, a former world No. 4 and Olympic champion, has made an incredible return to professional tennis after becoming a mother. In less than a year, she's climbed 478 places to finish 2025 as the world No. 11. Her wins at the Abu Dhabi 500-level title and the Wimbledon semifinals prove that she's back and better than ever.
The Winners of the Week
- ATP: Jannik Sinner (2) defeated Félix Auger-Aliassime (9) to win the Paris Masters (1,000).
- WTA: Victoria Mboko (3) defeated Leylah Fernandez (2) to win the Hong Kong Tennis Open (250). Anna Blinkova won the Jiangxi Open (250), and Janice Tjen (4) took the Chennai Open (250) title.
On the Rise / Down the Line
- Jannik Sinner moves up to No. 1.
- Janice Tjen and Lilli Tagger make significant jumps in the rankings.
- Carlos Alcaraz, Diana Shnaider, and Stefanos Tsitsipas drop in the rankings.
Upcoming Tournaments
- ATP: Hellenic Championship (Athens) and Moselle Open (Metz, France).
- WTA: WTA Tour Finals (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).
Share your thoughts on these exciting developments in the comments! Who do you think will dominate the upcoming tournaments?
