Something about Wimbledon is just different. Players attribute it to the crowd, the traditionalism, and the fact it is the only Grand Slam where fans queue overnight for a glimpse of top stars. It is where careers are launched: Nick Kyrgios stunned Rafael Nadal in 2014, Boris Becker became the youngest champion at 17 in 1985, and Sabine Lisicki ended Serena Williams' 34-match unbeaten streak in 2013. With top seeds struggling with form or injury, Standard Sport highlights five rising talents who could explode onto the scene at the All England Club.
Joao Fonseca: The 'Neymar of Tennis'
The Brazilian, branded by some as the 'Neymar of tennis' for his flamboyance, is seen as the top prodigy in the men's game. He backed that up with a remarkable run to the quarter-finals at the French Open earlier this month, where he stunned 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in a dramatic five-set comeback on Court-Philippe Chatrier. That victory got a monkey off his back, as he finally defeated one of today's 'big four'. He had previously fallen to Jannik Sinner at Indian Wells and Carlos Alcaraz at the Miami Open, while French Open winner Alexander Zverev ousted him in Monte Carlo.
Fonseca's heart, technical brilliance, and raw athleticism against Djokovic proved his worth. Many players with similar exuberant styles can go missing at majors, but Fonseca shone at Roland-Garros. He reached the third round at Wimbledon last year, losing to Nicolas Jarry, but his game has evolved. He nullified Casper Ruud's one-two punch in Paris and beat Tommy Paul at Indian Wells. Still adapting to grass, he suffered a surprise defeat by Yannick Hanfmann in Halle and withdrew from Eastbourne to stay fresh. His all-court approach makes him a tricky opponent on any surface.
Learner Tien: The American Collegiate Star
A product of the US collegiate system, Tien stands apart. The 20-year-old, born to Hoa refugees from Vietnam, attended the University of Southern California. He rose to prominence with a junior final at the 2023 Australian Open and became the youngest player in the 2022 US Open main draw after winning the national junior title at 16. At last year's Australian Open, he upset three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev in a marathon second-round match, and repeated the feat this year with a straight-sets victory in the fourth round.
In Acapulco, he stunned top seed Zverev, and he claimed his maiden ATP Tour title at Moselle in November, defeating Britain's Cameron Norrie. He ended 2025 with the ATP Next Gen Finals title, avenging his 2024 final loss to Fonseca. His coach is Michael Chang, the former World No.2 and youngest man to win a singles major at the 1989 French Open. Tien's engine and dogged defence are his greatest assets, making him an enjoyable watch on grass. Now world No.17, he has a point to prove on the big stage.
Jakub Mensik: The Czech Powerhouse
With Mensik's style, grass should suit him, but the 20-year-old Czech has struggled on turf. He was denied a maiden Grand Slam final at Roland-Garros by Zverev earlier this month, having beaten Fonseca in the quarter-finals. The 26th seed in Paris showed grit to power past Alex de Minaur and Andrey Rublev, following a stunning quarter-final victory over Sinner in Qatar in February. On grass, he has reached quarter-finals in Mallorca and Eastbourne but lost in the first round at Queen's Club this summer to veteran Adrian Mannarino.
Standing at 6'5" with a thunderous serve and whipping forehand, Mensik is expected to excel on faster surfaces. What sets him apart from taller peers is his stamina and reach, allowing him to cover the baseline at lightning speed and stay in lung-busting rallies.
Iva Jovic: The Djokovic-Inspired Teenager
18-year-old Jovic became a star with her run to the semi-finals at Queen's Club this month. The American, born to Serbian and Croatian parents, has grass-court pedigree with a title at Ilkley last year. Her style is heavily inspired by Djokovic, focusing on suffocating opponents, taking the ball on the rise, and stepping into the court aggressively. She dictates play, running rivals side to side to find the perfect angle for a winner.
Djokovic said of Jovic earlier this year: "She definitely has all the tools to be a future champion and a future world No.1." At the Australian Open in January, she reached the quarter-finals, beating two-time major finalist Jasmine Paolini. Two wins over Alexandra Eala at Roland-Garros and Queen's set her up for beating last year's Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova two weeks ago. She was then beaten by Emma Raducanu, but Jovic has proved herself a serious dark horse this year.
Alexandra Eala: The Filipino Dark Horse
The mercurial Eala has upset the apple cart for years but struggled for consistency as she bids to crack the top 20. The 21-year-old arrived on the big stage at the Miami Open last year, defeating Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek en route while ranked 140th. Upon beating Swiatek, she became the first Filipino female to defeat a Grand Slam champion on the WTA tour in the Open era. She continued her rise at Eastbourne, losing in the final, before taking defending Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova the distance at the All England Club.
She claimed a maiden grass-court title at Birmingham this year and reached the semi-finals in Berlin, where she defeated Queen's champion Donna Vekic, former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, and two-time semi-finalist Elina Svitolina before falling to Linda Noskova. Known for her front-footed nature, Eala makes full use of her left-handed advantage with topspin but shows intelligence to adapt on quicker grass. Her speed and agility make her fun to watch when she attacks the net.
