It’s time to say see you later to this year’s Grand Slams… Another year, another crazy season. 2025 gave us unforgettable moments on the sport’s most iconic courts: highlights that absolutely deserve a recap.
The 2025 Open Era will be remembered for one dominant men’s rivalry: Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner.
Among fans, the “Sincaraz” showdown lit the season up with three Major finals between the two, something we hadn’t seen since the Grand Slams were officially established.
Their first Grand Slam final of the year came at Roland Garros, where Alcaraz pulled off an incredible comeback. Then, Sinner answered back at Wimbledon. And finally, the US Open, where the Spaniard closed the year with a confident win.
Besides the “Sincaraz” rivalry, in the first big tournament of the year, Australia Open, where Sinner claimed back-to-back titles after defeating the German Alexander Zverev.
On the women’s side, the story was all about variety. Aryna Sabalenka reached three finals but left with only one trophy, as each Slam crowned a different champion.
Starting off the year with a surprise, the North American Madison Keys stunned the reigning champ Sabalenka to capture the Australian Open.
At Roland Garros, Coco Gauff rallied past Aryna, ending a 10-year American drought in Parisian clay. Over at Wimbledon, Iga Światek steamrolled Amanda Anisimova with back-to-back “bagels” to dominate in London.
And to top the year off, the US Open final brought familiar faces, Sabalenka and Anisimova, with Sabalenka finally sealing a straight-forward victory.
But what about now…? With no Grand Slams on the horizon, the tennis world might feel a little empty. But that’s where you’d be wrong!
There’s still plenty of action, predictions, and excitement left this year to help us bid farewell to the 2025 season and carry us into the 2026 season.
Beyond the Slams: ATP Finals, WTA Finals & More
Laver Cup
Kicking off on September 19, the iconic showdown between Team Europe and Team World is set to light up the tennis calendar once again.
Making his much-anticipated debut is Brazilian sensation João Fonseca, who will team up with Americans Taylor Fritz, Alex Michelsen, and Reilly Opelka. With Francisco Cerúndolo from Argentina, plus australian Alex de Minaur making the final additions to Team World under the leadership of tennis legend Andre Agassi.
Across the net, Team Europe brings serious firepower with Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Danish Holger Rune, Norwegian Casper Ruud, Czech Jakub Mensik, Italian Flavio Cobolli, and captain Yannick Noah leading the charge.
Played on hard courts, the event promises three days of high-energy battles, featuring two singles matches and one doubles match each day. Wins are worth one point on Friday, two on Saturday, and three on Sunday, and the first team to reach 13 points takes home the trophy.
All eyes will be on João Fonseca’s debut and how the young Brazilian handles the pressure alongside some of the tour’s biggest names. Another key storyline? Carlos Alcaraz, who will be chasing his second consecutive Laver Cup title after last year’s victory in Berlin.
Paris Masters 1000 (Rolex Paris-Bercy)
The last ATP Masters 1000 of the year, and the final chance for players to qualify for the ATP Finals, lands in Paris from October 25 to November 2.
Last year’s edition brought plenty of surprises, with Carlos Alcaraz exiting in the round of 16 and Jannik Sinner forced to withdraw due to a stomach virus. Their absences paved the way for a smooth victory by Alexander Zverev, who defeated the french Ugo Humbert to lift the trophy.
For 2025, players like Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, American Ben Shelton and Italian Lorenzo Musetti are all names to watch. Each will be fighting not only for the title but also for those precious last qualifying spots for the ATP Finals, making Paris the ultimate showdown before the year’s final stage.
ATP Finals
Known as the “championship of champions,” the ATP Finals brings together the top eight singles players and doubles teams of the season for one last, high-stakes showdown. With only the thrilling ”Sincaraz” duo already locked in, all eyes will be on the Italian as he looks to defend his 2024 title.
Set to take place from November 9 to 16 keep a close watch on Casper Ruud, and don’t count out American sensation Taylor Fritz, whose powerful game could bring fresh excitement and shake up the race for the crown.
WTA Finals
Mirroring the men’s “championship of champions,” the WTA Finals crowns the top eight singles players and doubles teams of the season.
So far, only two stars have officially booked their spots: the fierce Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek.
With the rankings looking strong, there’s a real chance we could see four Americans in the mix: Coco Gauff (the tournament’s defending champion), Amanda Anisimova (fresh off a US Open final), Madison Keys (this year’s Australian Open winner), and Jessica Pegula (a U.S. Grand Slam semifinalist).
Another name to watch? The Russian Mirra Andreeva, the 18-year-old Russian Gen Z phenomenon who’s been turning heads all season. After reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals and the fourth round of the Australian Open, she’s on the verge of qualifying for the biggest stage of her young career. Since it’s her first time in the top 8 of the rankings, her chances of qualifying for her first WTA Finals are looking really good. Let’s keep an eye on her rise.
And let’s not forget about the doubles! Brazil’s very own Luisa Stefani, paired with Hungarian Tímea Babos, is closing in on a spot among the top eight doubles teams. After winning the São Paulo Open on September 13th, the duo climbed to eighth place in the rankings with 3,208 points, putting them on the brink of qualifying for this prestigious year-end event.
Davis Cup
Last but definitely not least, tennis fans can look forward to the Davis Cup Finals, often called the sport’s very own “World Cup” taking place this November in Bologna, Italy. Eight nations will battle it out, each bringing a squad of four players: Argentina, Germany, Spain, France, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and host nation Italy.
The event follows a thrilling knockout format, with teams fighting through elimination rounds until the great decision. It’s a rare chance to watch some of the world’s top players trade their individual goals for national pride, bringing a whole new level of passion and intensity to the court.
Billie Jean King Cup Final
Later this month, we’ll witness the BJK Cup final, the women’s version of the Tennis World Cup.On Sunday (21) in Shenzhen, China, the United States will face Italy in the tournament’s grand showdown.
This matchup is happening for the third time in the competition. With the Europeans in control, the Italian team claimed two titles back in 2009 and 2010. Let’s see if the Americans are lucky and hungry enough to take the crown this year.
Looking ahead to 2026: What we’re manifesting for next season?
The expectation is that the new generation will keep up the pace, delivering aggressive matches, a wider variety of tournament surfaces, and fresh rivalries that could reshape the sport. Rising stars like Mirra Andreeva, João Fonseca, American standout Iva Jović, and fellow U.S. talent Leaner Tien are the ones to watch as this exciting wave of young talent continues to rise.
But it’s not just about the youth. Veteran players are ready to fight back, using their experience and consistency as weapons against the next generation. Japanese favorite Naomi Osaka, American favorite sister Venus Williams and Serbian legend Novak Djokovic already proved their staying power with outstanding runs in the latest Grand Slam, ensuring that 2026 will be even more competitive, and way more fun, for tennis fans everywhere.
Here in Brazil, every tournament mentioned in this article will be broadcast on ESPN channels and on the Disney+ streaming platform.
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The article above was edited by Fernanda Miki Tsukase.
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