The 10 tennis players over 35 who will seek to cling to the elite in 2025

Streaming UTR Pro Boca Raton Women live tennis

🎾 Emma Jackson vs Brooke Black

1. Sign up with Bet365 here
2. Make your first deposit of at least €5
3. Go to the “Live” section and watch every match

Watch the match on Bet365

 PUBLICIDAD

Register at bet365, deposit €5 or more into your account and you will receive 100% of your eligible deposit in Bet Credits (up to €100). New customers only. Terms apply. Winnings do not include the value of Bet Credits. Maximum prizes, game restrictions, time limits and terms apply. Registration required.

The love for tennis is what drives this group of tennis players whose best days are behind them, but who still see themselves as competitive enough to hold onto an interesting ranking position and to be protagonists in important tournaments. Continuing to compete with over 35 years is already quite an achievement, but they want to find some joy in 2025 and continue to evade retirement.

It would have been unthinkable a couple of decades ago that in the top 100 of the ATP ranking there would be five players over 35 years old. The longevity of the tour has considerably extended thanks to improvements in physical care, nutrition, as well as in the treatment and prevention of injuries. Nevertheless, it remains truly challenging to endure the rigors of an increasingly physical tennis, where explosiveness in movements and the power of shots play a significant role.

There are still players from another era who have managed to adapt and trouble the young ones with their talent, tactical intelligence, and passion for this sport. It is necessary to exclude Novak Djokovic from this list as the Serbian is in another stratosphere. At 37 years old, he will continue to strive for glory in the world's most important tournaments and it feels like he still has a lot more to give. However, there are many other players who can still surprise and face this 2025 with the need to feel competitive to not succumb to an inevitable end, such as retirement.

The oldest player in the entire top 100 is Gael Monfils, capable of maintaining a physical and mental fitness that keeps his desire to continue competing alive. Currently ranking 55th, he will seek significant results to keep believing in his chances to enjoy tennis courts. Fabio Fognini, at 37, earned a place among the top 100 at the end of the season and, as long as he continues to have access to the most prestigious tournaments on the calendar, he can remain active.

- There are five players over 35 years old in the top 100, and another five who will try to rejoin that club.

Special mention goes to Roberto Bautista and Adrian Mannarino, both 36 years old. The Spaniard had a resurgence in the latter part of the season when he seemed destined for a definitive decline, but he regained great form and will start the year as world number 51. On the other hand, the Frenchman had an excellent season two years ago but felt the effects of time last season, so it will be interesting to see if he can improve his performance or if he is already on an irreversible downward trend.

Outside the top 100, and with the primary goal of returning to this club as soon as possible, are five players, two of whom were Grand Slam champions. Stan Wawrinka, at 38, and Marin Cilic, at 36, aim to make the most of their chances to remain competitive in major tournaments. The Swiss experienced a significant decline in 2024, while the Croatian won a tournament but struggled to find the desired consistency.

- Gasquet has set his definitive farewell at Roland Garros 2025.

To these, we must add illustrious names like Albert Ramos, an indefatigable warrior on the courts who competes at the Challenger level throughout the year without hesitation, Mikhail Kukushkin, who is close to completing a remarkable comeback from last year that could place him in the top 100 (now at 113), and Richard Gasquet who will compete in several tournaments throughout the calendar, aiming to bid farewell to significant venues for him, with Roland Garros being the chosen setting for his definitive goodbye.

Finally, it will be interesting to see if Martin Klizan can continue his climb up the rankings after returning to professional tennis years after retiring. His major goal is to return to the top 100, a feat he is still far from, currently at 291, but he is determined to keep fighting to achieve it. In conclusion, old legends with plenty of gas left to surprise and honor this sport with their dedication and love.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los 10 tenistas mayores de 35 años que buscarán aferrarse a la élite en 2025