ATP: The Disappointments of the 2025 Season

Carlos Navarro | 4 Dec 2025 | 14.54

Zverev, one of the disappointments of the season. Source: Getty

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The 2025 season is ending and many ATP players will finish the season with a question on their minds. Am I satisfied with what I have achieved? There will be many, of course, who will pass this test with flying colors; others, on the contrary, will reflect and come to the conclusion that they need to improve. That's where we come in: to motivate those who perhaps have fallen short in a 2025 season where they have not met the expectations.

Can a player who finishes the year as #3 in the ATP rankings be considered a disappointment? When the distance separating you from second place is greater than the distance from you to the #1300 position, in my opinion, yes. For all these reasons, Alexander Zverev opens this article after a season where he barely won one title (Munich) and where his performance declined: throughout 2025, he was unable to replicate the level that took him to the Australian Open final.

Perhaps the most painful aspect of Sascha's year lies in ending 2025 further from capturing his first Grand Slam than where he started. Not only does he lose to Sinner and Alcaraz (who are as far away from him as the points suggest); he also falls to Rinderknech (Wimbledon) and Auger-Aliassime (US Open), failing to challenge Novak Djokovic's status as the "best among mortals" in major events (as evidenced by his defeat in Paris). The window of opportunities closes for the German, and in a year with little self-criticism and few solutions, the longed-for Grand Slam continues to drift away.

In the constant search for the third leg of the trio led by Sinner and Alcaraz, Holger Rune emerged, just two and a half years ago, as the great alternative. The perfect villain. And 2025 seemed, at its outset, a great opportunity to redeem himself and bring excitement back to the tennis scene after an erratic 2024. Nothing could be further from the truth: his fourth round in Melbourne was the prelude to another irregular year, with as many bright spots (title in Barcelona, final in Indian Wells) as extended rough patches (zero Grand Slam quarterfinals, including early exits at Wimbledon and the US Open).

Beyond the serious Achilles tendon injury, a misfortune no player would wish for, his season until that ill-fated Estocolmo tournament was marked by potential turning points... that faded into nothingness, with painful defeats against opponents where he couldn't display his dominance (Atmane in Cincinnati, Vacherot in Shanghai). Will 2026 and the return from such a severe injury be the turning point he needs to awaken? Let's hope so, and unleash a new beast, that Rune with the order and composure that we miss so much.

Rublev and Medvedev, Russia remains down

Precisely, order is not lacking in Andrey Rublev. A clear game plan, with power and aggressiveness to overwhelm anyone. The arrival of Marat Safin aimed to revitalize the Russian, providing him with vital tranquility to unlock his best performance on the court; indeed, mentally, we have seen a Rublev less prone to such outbursts, with a greater tendency towards composure on the court...

But, from a tennis perspective, the year has ended with more shadows than light. The title in Doha keeps him in the top-20, but he approaches a problem similar to other players of his generation: the gap to big titles, instead of narrowing, widens. It has been a gray year for the current #16 in the world, failing to make an impact in major tournaments, with losses uncharacteristic of one of the most consistent players on the circuit in the last decade. A revolution is urgently needed, whether in his game or in his approach to many tournaments.

From one Russian to another, and here I go. The late-season glimpses of hope do not conceal the dismal campaign of a Daniil Medvedev who concludes 2025 with just one victory in Grand Slams. Yes, you heard correctly: 1-3 is his record in the most significant tournaments globally, prompting him to take an almost desperate decision to sever the long-standing bond with Gilles Cervara.

Under the guidance of Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, we have witnessed glimpses of a renewed Daniil: more aggressive, rediscovering his serve, shortening points with his cross-court shots. Recovering that identity, the one that led him to defeat the best and win the US Open, is crucial as he approaches his thirties and his physical reserves decline. At this crossroads, the final part of his sporting career will be decided... but the farther 2025 is from his memory, the better.

We conclude this ranking with an American. While Fritz has firmly maintained his top-10 status and Ben Shelton has taken a giant step forward, Tommy Paul has lagged behind in that fascinating race he holds with his compatriots. His organic and natural evolution had him on the brink of the top-10 at the beginning of the season... but the feeling is that Tommy hasn't been able to sustain that momentum.

Zero titles, zero finals, and #20 in the world to close out a 2025 which, to make matters worse, has ended on a tender note. Physically, perhaps, lies one of the major handicaps that keep him from the elite: Paul doesn't seem ready to endure the sustained efforts that can elevate you in your career, and his game is more suited to the top-15 than the top-5. After failing to shine in what seemed to be his breakout season, it's time for one of the most attractive, tennis-wise, players on the circuit to experience a year of redemption. And you, who do you miss on this list? Do you disagree with any names? We read you in the comments.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, ATP: Las decepciones de la temporada 2025