Coco Gauff and Ben Shelton have both been tipped for a breakout season in 2025, with tennis experts and former players alike predicting that the two American stars are poised to take their games to new heights. Having made significant strides in 2023, both Gauff and Shelton faced a mixture of highs and lows in 2024. But now, with the new season on the horizon, expectations are high for their continued growth and development in the sport.
In 2023, both players reached new career milestones, with Gauff earning her first Grand Slam singles title at the US Open and Shelton making a deep run at the Australian Open. Their performances made them two of the most promising young talents in the sport, and they garnered attention as the next generation of American tennis stars ready to follow in the footsteps of greats like Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Andre Agassi, and Pete Sampras. But while 2024 offered them both valuable learning experiences, it was a season with its own share of challenges. Looking ahead, there’s a sense that 2025 could be the year that sees both players take their games to the next level.
Former WTA player Andrea Petkovic, who is now a commentator and analyst, is particularly optimistic about the prospects of Gauff and Shelton in 2025. Petkovic, known for her insightful takes on the game, shared her thoughts on the duo during an appearance on The Rennae Stubbs podcast, expressing excitement for what’s to come in the next season.
Andrea Petkovic’s Predictions for 2025
“I have two players I really look forward to this season in 2025,” Petkovic said. “On the men’s side, it is Ben Shelton. I think he will mature and become a real contender, someone who could take out the favorites in major tournaments.”
Shelton’s impressive rise through the ranks in recent years has not gone unnoticed. The 21-year-old American made waves when he turned professional in 2022, bypassing his final year of college tennis to pursue a career on the ATP Tour. His decision has paid off, as he is now ranked comfortably inside the world’s top 25 and has even reached a career-high ranking of No. 13. Shelton possesses one of the biggest serves in the game, and his powerful groundstrokes make him a formidable opponent.
Despite the obvious potential, Petkovic acknowledges that Shelton’s game is still a work in progress. In 2024, Shelton showed flashes of brilliance, including winning another ATP title and gaining valuable experience in high-level matches. However, he also had moments of inconsistency, especially in the latter part of the season. Petkovic believes that Shelton has the talent to become a top contender at major tournaments, but he needs to refine his game further.
“I think he has a lot of potential, but he needs to mature and develop more structure in his game,” Petkovic explained. “There was a period this year when I watched a lot of his matches, and honestly, it drove me insane. There was zero structure, no real plan, and it was just chaos. But by the end of the season, I saw some development, and that excites me.”
Petkovic pointed out that Shelton’s raw power and fearless approach on the court can be both a strength and a weakness. His big serves and aggressive playstyle have made him a threat on fast surfaces, but Petkovic believes that adding more structure to his game will elevate his level even further.
“What made him dangerous before was that he was just swinging for the fences without thinking too much,” Petkovic said. “He would serve at 160mph and go for the kill on every point. He was all over the place, but in a good way. He had this confidence and unpredictability that made him dangerous. If he can add more structure to that, it’s going to take him a long way.”
Coco Gauff’s Potential for 2025
On the women’s side, Andrea Petkovic is equally excited about the prospects of Coco Gauff. The 20-year-old American had a solid 2024 season, capped off by her triumph at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, where she secured her first-ever WTA Finals title. This win was a significant milestone in Gauff’s career, cementing her status as one of the most promising young stars in the sport. However, Gauff’s 2024 season was not without its struggles. She faced a challenging summer, marked by disappointing results at Wimbledon, the Paris Olympic Games, and the North African hard-court swing, which culminated in a difficult US Open campaign.
Despite the tough middle stretch of the season, Gauff’s overall year was still a success. Petkovic believes that Gauff’s resilience and her recent adjustments will make her a serious threat in 2025.
“I’m really excited about Coco Gauff’s 2025 season,” Petkovic said. “I think the changes she made in her game towards the end of the year will have a big impact. The coaching change and the grip change on her serve were huge developments. I really liked what I saw in the latter part of the year.”
Gauff’s decision to change her grip on her serve midway through the season was a bold move that paid off, and it was one of the key areas of focus in her post-2024 improvement. The coaching change, which saw Gauff transition from working with Brad Gilbert to her new coach, has also helped her refine her game and take her performances to the next level. Petkovic sees these changes as signs that Gauff is maturing and becoming more consistent, and she is excited to see what the 20-year-old can achieve in the new season.
Looking Ahead to 2025
For both Ben Shelton and Coco Gauff, 2025 represents an opportunity to build on their promising careers and continue developing into elite players. While Shelton will look to refine his serve-and-volley game and add more structure to his aggressive playstyle, Gauff will aim to build on her impressive 2024 finish and continue to evolve her game with the adjustments she made in the latter half of the season.
Petkovic’s prediction that both players will be contenders in the major tournaments of 2025 seems well-founded. Shelton’s raw power, combined with his growing maturity, could see him challenge the top seeds at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Gauff, with her newfound consistency and maturity, is likely to be a factor in every tournament she enters, particularly with her ability to raise her game in big moments, as seen in her WTA Finals victory.
As young American players, Gauff and Shelton are at the forefront of the next generation of tennis stars, and their progress in 2025 will be closely watched by fans, pundits, and fellow players. With the continued support of their coaches, improvements to their games, and lessons learned from the challenges of 2024, both Gauff and Shelton are expected to make a significant impact on the sport in the coming year. The future of American tennis looks incredibly bright, and with Gauff and Shelton leading the charge, the next wave of talent may be just around the corner.