The most anticipated returns of 2026

Only one day left for the end of a 2025 marked by the dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. The tennis year has left no room for doubt or uncertainty: the Spaniard and Italian have taken the spotlight, sharing the Grand Slams and monopolizing media attention, while in the WTA, Aryna Sabalenka has finished at the top, accompanied by a more varied group of great champions. One of the most beautiful things about turning the page, however, is the return of faces that had been absent for some time. The intense demands of an increasingly physical sport, with heavier balls, have led to a record number of injuries in a fateful year for many. With a month of preseason and several additional weeks for those sidelined, 2026 gives us the opportunity to reset: names that had been put on hold will return, promising to do so with good tennis and a 2.0 version. One who has taken the most time to breathe and regenerate his body is Hubert Hurkacz. A threat and active member of the top 15 for a couple of seasons, physical problems knocked on the door of the Polish player in the year in which he had shown the most ambition, recruiting Nicolás Massú and Ivan Lendl to take his tennis to another level. Knee surgery, with serious complications, forced him to end his 2025 in June, knocking him out of the top 50 and forcing him to adjust his priorities. The Polish player is already in Sydney to represent his country in the United Cup 2026, a first contact for Hubert who, judging by the images, has not wasted any time. He appears much more muscular, a statement of intent: his introverted nature does not compromise his strong competitive spirit. He has all the weapons: one of the most impressive serves on the circuit, a very solid backhand... and we will see if an improved forehand. A total threat to any tough opponent in the early rounds of tournaments, if, of course, his physical condition allows. ... ... ... The injury to the pectoral suffered by Grigor Dimitrov at the past Wimbledon left us all speechless. The match he was playing against Sinner, beautiful in terms of tennis and perfect tactically, reminded us of his best version... until sudden physical issues arose. That fateful outcome was followed by surgery, a summer without touching the racket, a long recovery period, and a total transformation, even of his coaching team.

Now, Grigor will seek a new assault on the top under the guidance of Xavier Malisse, with whom he coincided in his early years on the circuit. He has defined these months as a way to get the machinery working again, to undergo a total physical restructuring to, at the age of 34, remain more than relevant at the top level. Few take care of themselves better than the Bulgarian, although the early months will be an important test to see to what extent he will be competitive against the best. An absence that went somewhat unnoticed compared to others, perhaps because it was not as long, was that of Tommy Paul. We haven't seen him compete since the last US Open, all after a somewhat disappointing 2025: his progression curve stalled, and the specter of injuries appeared for the first time in a long time, pushing him to the background in his country in favor of names like Taylor Fritz or Ben Shelton. Now, after getting engaged to Paige Lorenze, the American returns to one of his natural habitats. This is where he announced himself to the world a couple of seasons ago, reaching the semifinals and giving Novak Djokovic a tough match, a catalyst for a slow but steady rise. He will try again, more mature than ever, in a 2026 where he wants to ride the wave of confidence and continue to establish himself as one of the top 'outsiders' in each major event. Whether he will succeed is another question... but his return is part of an exciting group of players who aim to reclaim their role as protagonists on the circuit. Looking forward to seeing them in action.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los regresos más esperados del 2026