While older tennis fans will cite the days of John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg as the golden era, the sport had another renaissance around the 2010s.
No fan of the sport will ever forget the exhilarating 2008 Wimbledon final where, after rain breaks stopped play, and it got so dark visibility was poor, Spaniard Rafael Nadal beat world number one Roger Federer.
It was almost uncanny that (arguably) the greatest players of all time were active during the same epoch, with the ‘big four’ – Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray – all battling it out at the same time.
After Federer and Nadal retired in the early 2020s, the tennis landscape lost some of its lustre: how could it ever reach the dizzying heights these respectful rivalries brought to the game?
However, not all is lost: now a young array of Gen Z tennis aces are bringing some sizzle back to the courts again, with their thrilling games and glamorous off-court lifestyles (including a rumoured romance between two players).
The French Open last month saw a nail biting five and a half hour match asCarlos Alcaraz come back from three match points down to beat World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. And that’s not the only news swirling around Alcaraz: he is rumoured to be in a relationship with fellow player Emma Raducanu – best known for winning the US Open in 2021, at the tender age of just 18.
So it seems tennis is back with a bang, and here are some the players making it sexy again, ahead of Wimbledon, which starts on June 30 and will run through to July 13.
Coco Gauff
US tennis champ Coco Gauff (pictured in June this year)was named one of Time’s Women Of The Year for 2024
EYE ON THE BALL:Coco Gauff is pictured during a practice session in London ahead of Wimbledon 2025
US tennis champ Coco Gauff, 21, was named one of Time’s Women Of The Year for 2024.
The young tennis sensation won her first slam – the US Open – in September 2023, making her the highest-paid female athlete in the world at the time, according to Sportico.
As a Black woman and tennis player, Coco has said she is especially proud of her success.
‘Being a Black woman, in a sport that isn’t as diverse as others are, it definitely means a lot to me,’ she previously told TimeMagazine.
She added that as she grows older,she’s embracing her role in the world, saying: ‘There’s always going to be change needed in this world. I hope I can play a small part,’ she said.
The prestigious list was curated by Time editors, who said they looked to ‘extraordinary leaders working toward a more equal world’ and ‘trailblazers fighting for a more equitable future.’
‘The 12 women on our 2024 list are pivotal figures from across the globe who have dedicated themselves to lifting up others as they rise,’ the article read.
Emma Raducanu
Emma Raducanu (pictured attending the 2021 Met Gala) has been under huge pressure since winning the US Open at just 18-years-old in 2021
Emma Raducanu photographed during a practice session at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon ahead of the Championships
Emma Raducanu shot to global prominence in 2021 when she won the US Open at just 18-years-old – a victory she has since spoken about as playing a role in causing stress and performance anxiety.
However, she has been playing at a top level, and will no doubt be a big draw for many when it comes to Wimbledon (though she has her work cut out for her, facing some very tough opponents in the early rounds of the prestigious tournament).
As is inevitable when it comes to very famous sports stars, 22-year-old Emma has been at the centre of romance rumours with another player – CarlosAlcaraz. The two are US Open champions – after Raducanu won in 2021, Alcaraz picked up the trophy a year later – and are good friends, growing up together on the tour. Emma finally addressed the rumours surrounding her off-court connection withAlcarazvery recently.
The pair are due to partner in doubles at the US Open in August, but speculation about a possible bond beyond the tennis court has grown after Raducanu was seen supporting the Spanish star at the Queen’s Club Championships earlier this month.
Raducanu was seen supporting Alcaraz last Thursday and Saturday, sparking talk around Queen’s that there might be ‘something going on between them’, as the pair were spotted laughing and joking together and arriving at the venue just minutes apart.
Their most recent link-up came this week,with Alcaraz being confirmed as the latest global ambassador of Evian ahead of Wimbledon – the tournament’s official water supplier since 2008.Raducanu also works with Evian, her collaborative work starting after she became the hottest property in British sport by winning the US Open in 2021, which led to her signing lucrative deals with the likes of Nike and Christian Dior.
During a press conference, Raducanu was inevitably asked about the romance rumours, to which she smiled and said: ‘We’re just good friends.’
Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz is pictured with the Queens trophy after winning the grass tournament ahead of this year’s Wimbledon
GETTING CHAMPIONSHIP READY:Carlos Alcarazserves during a training session ahead of Wimbledon 2025
Alcaraz, 22, will have the eyes of the world on him as he embarks on his Wimbledon campaign on the tail of an 18-match winning streak, including victories at the French Openand on the grass at Queen’s.
Having lifted the famous Wimbledon trophy twice, heinsists he’s not getting distracted by the prospect of becoming only the fifth man to win three Wimbledon titles in a row.The Spaniard could join icons Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to complete a hat-trick if he can triumph on Centre Court once again.
‘I really want to win the title, I really want to lift the trophy,’ Alcaraz has said.‘Right now, I’m not thinking about who I could join if I win three Wimbledons in a row. I am just thinking I want to be ready and to prepare myself in the best way. I feel a lot of confidence.’
Meanwhile, off court, the player have been besieged with rumours that he is dating his sometimes doubles partner Emma Raducanu – who has said the two are ‘just friends’.
Despite the denials, sports marketing expert Tim Lopez, CEO of TLNT Global, says if the romance was genuine, it would catapult both players into the stratosphere.
‘From a brand positioning profile and marketing perspective, it would be an absolute dream. They would be a good example of where one plus one makes three.’
They would be hugely ‘complementary’, he adds. ‘They would join ranks of other famous power couples such as Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi, or, outside of tennis, the likes of Becks and Posh.’
Jack Draper
Despite the pressure on his shoulders, Jack Draper (pictured) says he is ‘confident in myself that I can inspire people’ like his Brit predecessor Andy Murray did
Jack Draper (pictured training ahead of Wimbledon 2025) will be entering the tournament as the fourth seeded player
With a current ATP ranking of number four, Draper has everything to play for as he prepares to take part in Wimbledon.
He has a tough draw – should he get through to the quarter final, he will potentially face Novak Djokovic, who has amassed a record-breaking number of slam titles during his career.
Draper was suffering with a hip injury earlier this year, but by March, he revealed he was feeling much better.
He said at the time: ‘At the start of the year I was struggling a bit, but my body feels good now. I feel really strong in every area of my game.’
Speaking on Saturday, Draper, who enters Wimbledon as the fourth seeded player, discussed the prospect of filling Andy Murray’s shoes as the focus of Brit tennis fans, and the man who will carry with him the hearts and hopes of millions every time he steps on to Centre Court.
‘When Andy retired they said I was next in line,’ said Draper, who was 27th in the world when Murray called it quits. ‘I didn’t really think about it then but I have improved so much and put myself in this position.
‘Andy has been incredibly successful and has become adored by the nation. They are obviously big shoes to fill, I’m aware of that. At the same time I’m confident in myself that I can inspire people like Andy has done.’
Taylor Fritz
Taylor Fritz (pictured) celebrates winning the Eastbourne Open at Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club on June 28
Taylor Fritz will start his Wimbledon having won theStuttgart Open title on June 15 (with a6-3, 7-6 win against German playerAlexander Zverev).
The American athlete will no doubt be hoping to go further in the tournament this year, after admitting he felt ‘hurt’ after crashing out in the quarter final in 2024.
He lost that match3-6, 7-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 to Italian Lorenzo Musetti.
Taylor took to Instagram to share his feelings about the tournament, writing: ‘All love Wimbledon.
‘Tough match yesterday, always hurts to come up just short but that’s part of the game. Now all I can do is rest up, get back to work, and have a good flight home,’ he added.
After winningEastbourne yesterday, with a7-5 6-1 victory overfellow American Jenson Brooksby, Taylor has nowwon seven of his eight matches on grass this year.
The world Number 5, who was last year’sUS Open runner-up, will no doubt now be eying that Wimbledon trophy.
Commenting on the upcoming slam after his Eastbourne victory, Taylor said: ‘I’m going to be ready to go. I’d much rather go into the tournament with confidence and a title.’
