Top 5 Emerging Players of 2016

The year 2016 was witness to a number of upcoming talents, incredible matches and potential rivalries to be seen. With the so called transition-period of Tennis taking place, will the quality set by the Big 4 be matched by the #NextGen stars? Hopeful of a strong Tennis future, we take a look into the top emerging players the year of 2016 has seen, and what to expect from them in the years to come.

5.) Taylor Fritz (USA)

Fritz was awarded the 2016 ATP ‘Star of Tomorrow’ award, and rightly so given that he is currently the youngest player in the Top 100 in the world, having just turned 19 years old.

Having found success on the ATP Challenger Tour and an equally successful junior career, reached his first ATP Final at the Memphis Open where he lost to three time defending champion Kei Nishkori. With this run, he became the 2 fastest American to reach and ATP Final, doing so in just his 3 career event, the fastest being John Isner.

Having achieved a career high ranking of World No. 53, Fritz has come into prominence, and will hopefully become consistent in a good couple of years.

4.) Karen Khachanov (RUS)

Another newcomer who came into prominence during the 2016 season was Russian Karen Khachanov. The 20 year old, who had a 4-6 W-L record on the tour prior to this year finished the year at a commendable 13-9 which includes a maiden Tour title at the inaugural Chengdu Open, where he defeated Spaniard Albert Ramos- Vinolas in a tight three setter.

The Moscow native, who is off late being considered as a gentler version of former Russian World No.1 Marat Safin given their similar style of play, is all set to be the next poster boy of Russian Tennis.

With a booming serve from a 6ft 6in frame, and some extremely powerful groundstrokes, this 20 year old talent has already proved to be a threat to some of the former Top 20 players, and can do so more regularly, by producing consistent runs.

3.) Kyle Edmund (GBR)

British Tennis, as we all know, has never been on such a high. They were the 2015 Davis Cup champions, and now, have a World No.1 in Andy Murray. However, little known Kyle Edmund has also slowly started to make a mark on the tour.

Having been selected for the Davis Cup quarterfinal tie against Serbia, Edmund won both his Singles ties to see Team Great Britain through to the Semifinals. This was followed by an extremely successful US Open performance, where he advanced to the fourth round having defeated Gasquet and Isner, two former Top 10 players, along the way. With a breakthrough year, Edmund would be hoping to win a maiden title in the 2017 season, and become the poster boy for British Tennis, filling in Andy Murray shoes, once the latter steps out.

2.) Lucas Pouille (FRA)

It’s fair to say that Frenchman Lucas Pouille has been a revelation this year. Relatively unknown until this year, the 22 year old achieved a career high ranking of World No. 15, a remarkable stat, considering that he started the year at World No. 78. An inclusion in the Top 20 in the world is certainly a phenomenal performance, given the quality of tennis players present, and the highly competitive nature of the tour. The 2016 winner of the ‘Most Improved Player of the Year’ played arguably the best matches of his life, one of them coming in the 3 round of Wimbledon in a four set defeat of 2009 US Open Champion Juan Martin Del Potro.

However, it was a fourth round match at the US Open, where he stunned Rafael Nadal in a terrific five setter 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6) , in what was probably one of the best matches on tour this season. In the following weeks, Pouille became a first time winner on the ATP World Tour, when he defeated fellow young gun Dominic Thiem in the finals of the Metz Open, in straight sets.

With some heavy artillery up his sleeve, Pouille has come out all guns blazing this year, and more of the same can be expected off him in the subsequent years. With slight improvements in his game, the Frenchman can be a definite threat to Top 10 players, something we hope to see him become in the coming few years.

1.) Alexander Zverev (GER)

Standing tall at a mighty 6ft 6in, Zverev has had a sensational run at the ATP World Tour, in what could be described as a breakthrough year for the #NextGen star.

With a W-L record of 44-24, and a maiden title at the St. Petersburg Open, Zverev has shown the world of his potential, and it’s only a matter of time before the German makes it big on the Grand Slam and Master’s stage.

Touted by many as a Future Top 5 player, the current World No. 24 has moved a whopping 63 places to achieve a career best ranking of World No. 20. In the process, he also became the youngest player to enter the ATP Top 20 since Novak Djokovic did so in 2006. Possessing a tall yet lanky figure, the 19 year old seems to be hardly any shaky for his age, racking up a total of 662 aces, and a healthy break point saving rate of 60%.

With a healthy rivalry in place with fellow #NextGen stars, Zverev seems to be heading in the right direction, and could certainly be the future tennis needs, following the decline of the Big Four. A healthy future awaits.