Mirra Andreeva, Grand Slam champion? Our hottest takes for 2025

As we make our way toward the 2025 season—which begins Friday, December 27 with the United Cup—our writers and editors tackle the most important questions of the new year.

Our series concludes with the TENNIS.com team's hottest takes for the new season.

Scroll down past this article to read more Burning Questions on 2025.

DAVID KANE: While betting on young talent to make a breakthrough hardly feels like a hot take, Mirra Andreeva launching into the Grand Slam stratosphere would certainly feel ahead of schedule if she wins one in 2025.

While the precocious teen has already come close with a run to the semifinals of Roland Garros, she only won one match at her next two major appearances and is still prone to nerves in big matches. She appeared poised for a Grand Slam breakout last January when she thumped Ons Jabeur with the loss of just three games, but hit herself out of a winning position two rounds later against Barbora Krejcikova.

The France-based teen has been working with former major champ and illustrious coach Conchita Martinez, who helped Garbiñe Muguruza win Wimbledon back in 2017. With a strong team and an elite tennis mind, all that appears missing for Andreeva is the additional strength and muscle memory that comes with age and experience on tour.

Read more: Mirra Andreeva blends smart tennis with madcap persona to continue meteoric rise

Andreeva already joked about losing some of the fearlessness she possessed in her remarkable 2023 debut; as she begins her third full season on tour, she will feel increasingly less of an oddity and more of an established player with most of the field familiar with what she can do on court.

In some ways, 2025 will be a make or break season for Andreeva, but if she is all we think she can be, she could be ready to take advantage of an opportunity at any of the four Slams next season.

Tennis’ eternal political challenges are more visible than ever, and it could stand to benefit from strong leadership. Joel Drucker

JOEL DRUCKER: A sport played in dozens of countries by individuals has always lent itself to a splintered environment, chockful of conflicts, factions, and confusion about priorities and leadership. Exhibit A: Davis Cup, once upon a time tennis’ most important event, has spent many years in the Open Era seeking to be relevant. Fortunately, periods of great charisma can cover up the sport’s lack of collective vision and leadership. This happened during the tennis boom years of the ‘70s, as well as for the last two decades, when the Big Three, the Williams sisters and other champions brightened the skies.

But now, as that era ends, tennis’ eternal political challenges are more visible. What does leadership look like? As one example, what’s the role of the ATP and WTA when it comes to drug testing and the confusing ways positive tests are announced and penalties are meted? Is it the job of a player’s association to advocate for justice on behalf of the player, similarly to the way a union operates?

But associations are also in partnership with the tournaments that need players to participate in them. Amid these complicated situations, what kind of statements and actions should the ATP and WTA take that best serve the game and build credibility among fans? Then there’s the complicated matter of prize money for players ranked outside the Top 100. Along with that, what responsibility do those many players have to tournaments, sponsors, fans, media? Here again, tennis could benefit from more leadership.

LIYA DAVIDOV, with a trio of takes:

• Heading into his fifth year on tour at the ripe old age of 21, Holger Rune is officially a man. The greatest, hottest take for 2025 would be the Dane outwardly expressing his manhood with facial hair o’ plenty. Nicknamed ‘baby face’ by yours truly, what better way to step onto the scene in 2025 then with a new look? A soul patch would be legendary, but we’ll take some stubble for starters. If we don’t see chin curtain by the end of the year, it’s a true loss for tennis fans everywhere.
• The hottest news of 2025 is Nick Kyrgios’ return to tennis, and we’re calling it here first: Nick Kyrgios will be a 2025 Grand Slam singles champion. He’s teaming up with Novak Djokovic in doubles and calling out to the tennis gods for a chance to play Jannik Sinner at AO. Kyrgios has big plans, and we’re hoping they translate into the achievements to match.
• Kyrgios stepping into the ring means there’s one less person who’ll fit at the top. And my money’s on the Greek falling out. Ever since his on-again off-again relationship with Paula Badosa, Stefanos Tsitsipas’ results and ranking have taken a hit. Although Tsitsipas can hold his ground, his game still causing competitive chaos for others, I’m beginning to question whether he has (or will find) what it takes to edge back into the inner circle.