Alcaraz, Raducanu, Świątek: Ranking the top tennis players aged 21 and younger

US Open champions Iga Świątek and Carlos Alcaraz are heralding a new era of tennis.

Their respective victories at Flushing Meadows marked a move away from the domination of Serena Williams and the “Big Three” – Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

With Williams now “evolving away from tennis” following the US Open, and Nadal, Djokovic and Federer battling injury and visa issues, a new generation of players are rising to the top.

Fortunately for tennis fans, the next crop of stars look to be just as talented. GiveMeSport ranks the best players who fall into the 21-years-old or younger bracket.

Rune achieved his best finish at a Grand Slam this year, reaching the quarter-finals of the French Open.

The Dane had won his first ATP title the month beforehand, triumphing at the Bavarian International Tennis Championships.

Currently ranked 31st in the world, Rune reached a career high standing of 27th in July.

Fernandez currently has a career high ranking of 13th, achieved after an impressive 12 months on the WTA Tour.

The Canadian rose to prominence after reaching the US Open final last year, just five months after winning her first WTA title at the Monterrey Open.

Although she was denied her first Grand Slam title by Emma Raducanu, Fernandez has arguably had a more successful year since. She won the Monterrey Open again, before reaching the quarter-finals at the French Open.

Gauff has already been on the WTA Tour for four years, despite being just 19-years-old. The American became a superstar when she defeated Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2019, and she has won two WTA titles since.

This year has seen Gauff break into the world top 10, reaching the French Open final and US Open quarter-finals in the process.

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