The 21 & Under Club: Whitney Osuigwe

How do you follow the Greatest Generation? It’s a question tennis has tried to answer for at least a decade. Serena, Roger, Novak, Rafa: all of them are over 30, and they’ve combined to win 75 Grand Slam singles titles—but none of them are going away quietly. When they do, who will fill their very large shoes?

As you’ll see in The 21 & Under Club, the future of tennis is still coming, and coming soon. While it may not produce a 20-Slam winner, it’s clear that the game will be in good hands. Interesting hands, too: one thing we know for sure is that this new generation of players will infuse the tours with a wide and refreshing range of styles, personalities and backgrounds. When the Greatest Generation says goodbye, we can feel good about welcoming this cast of players to the courts.

Instagram: whitney_osuigwe

Most-Liked Photo of 2019: Action shots at the Miami Open

Like CoCo Gauff, Osuigwe made her WTA main-draw debut in Miami. Like Gauff, Osuigwe won in her debut, which came against Naomi Osaka’s sister, Mari. And, like Gauff, insiders are bullish on Osuigwe’s longterm tour prospects.

“I would be surprised if she’s not a Top 10 player in the next few years,” says Jimmy Arias, director of player development at IMG Academy. “She’s the real deal.”

The Bradenton, FL native has spent most of her young life at the IMG Academy; her dad is a coach. Her passion for the sport, years spent on court and innate talent took Osuigwe to the winner’s circle of the 2017 junior French Open. This year, after turning 17 on April 17, Osuigwe won her second ITF World Tennis Tour title of her young career, in Charlottesville. Her upward trend is unmistakable.

“She has a very complete game,” says Arias. “Her playing style is a little eclectic in that sometimes she defends, and then other times she looks to attack.

“Because she won in the juniors, Whitney has that confidence to know how to win, and she believes it.”

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