Gone are the times of miraculous irruptions by adolescents, of stories of overcoming by men and women who, not having turned 18, they were already rubbing shoulders with the best on the planet. The evident increase in longevity in tennis careers, the result of advances in nutrition, prevention and treatment of injuries, as well as the greater physical demand of both circuits, greatly limits the possibility of underage tennis players opting for great success. This occurs in a much more pronounced way among men, where the example of Carlos Alcaraz is a rara avis in recent times, being Juncheng Shang the only current reference, while among women there are some more examples, with Cori Gauff becoming the protagonist as a minor. We review which men and women can go a long way in the ranking ATP y WTA this campaign.
Although it is true that among the females there are clear star projects at a very early age, among the males the age at which the leap to professionalism is made has been delayed, with a very competitive junior circuit and in which many of the rough diamonds of world tennis are kept until they practically come of age. Despite this, some cases of tennis players under 18 years of age are observed in 2023, who could give rise to talk and experience an outbreak that would bring them closer to the elite and will challenge this long-established trend.
Tennis players under 18 years of age with the possibility of being protagonists in 2023
Linda Fruhvirtova – 17 years old and 78 in the world
She is the only player in the top-100 who has not yet reached the age of majority and seems ready to establish herself in that select club and take steps forward in her progression. She still needs to mature physically, as seen at the US Open, where she gave a clear sample of her potential, but she ended up accusing her effort. She aims to be one of the best in the world in the medium term.
Brenda Fruhvirtova – 15 years old and 130 in the world
The great jewel, the diamond that gives off a more remarkable brilliance at a younger age. The level of play and maturity that she shows off being just a child is impressive and there are many who believe that she will break into the top-100 and will choose to blow up records of precociousness in the elite.
Victoria Jiménez Kasintseva – 17 years old and 157 in the world
This Andorran player has already shown her enormous level of play in some top-level tournaments, establishing herself as one of the great promises of world tennis. She trains in Barcelona, she has been advised by her father since she was a child and has a tremendous story of self-improvement and love for this sport. She seems to have everything to make a qualitative leap this year.
Sara Beljek – 16 years old and 180 in the world
He appeared in society after the previous phase of the US Open 2022 and caused a sensation with a unique self-confidence and his aggressive and cheeky tennis. A new jewel in the never-ending factory that is Czech tennis, which has a brilliant future ahead of it.
Petra Marcinko – 17 years old and 188 in the world
Number 1 in the world in the junior category, champion of the Australian Junior Open last year, capable of winning professional titles at just 16 years old and, in short, a tennis player called to make history. This Croatian is pointing ways and she may be ready to assault the elite already in 2023.
Juncheng Shang – 17 years old and 192 in the world
This Chinese player who has been training in Florida for years seems to be the only boy with the necessary maturity to break into the top-100 as a minor. He has forged his meteoric rise in the ranking on the ATP Challenger Tour and we could already see him playing previous phases of Grand Slam, receiving invitations to big tournaments and being the protagonist in important appointments.
Alexandra Eala – 17 years old and 215 in the world
Raised tennis-wise at the Rafa Nadal Academy, the versatile Filipino player has achieved clear success in recent years and all indications are that she has what it takes to succeed. Gently guided by the technical experts who direct her career, she will look to burn through the stages of her progression and 2023 could be a pivotal year for her.
Mirra Andreeva: 15 years and 297 of the world
He has been able to win four tournaments at a professional level during 2022, including the one at El Espinar, which gives an idea of the incredible level of tennis he has. This Bulgarian tennis player will give a lot to talk about if she is able to continue evolving as she did this season.
Jakub Mensik – 17 years old and 407 in the world
One of the few renowned juniors who has already decided to alternate his career in that category with professional tournaments, obtaining successes such as the four ITF titles achieved in 2022, three of them consecutively to close the year. Another Czech tennis player raised under the philosophy of direct tennis and the search for the winning shot.
Gabriel Debru – 16 years old and 628 in the world
Youngest piece of the exciting saga of French tennis players that is coming, with Van Assche and Fils as references already with 18 years. The man born in Grenoble has shown his potential with some victory in ATP Challenger Tour tournaments in 2022, something really complicated for a boy his age and which has compared him to benchmark players in recent decades. He emerged champion of Roland Garros Junior 2022, avoiding the pressure of playing at home, and will continue to combine professional and junior tournaments during 2023.
