The seven tennis players to follow in 2026: seeking the big names of the year
We analyze seven names that could "break out" and push their limits in the next twelve months. Which possible revelation stands out to you?
The 2026 season has already begun. A year of new experiences and a myriad of goals not only for the elite of the circuit but also for those who seek to progress and make their mark in one of the most challenging sports in the world. Each new year brings us new narratives to explore, reference events that capture all our attention... and tennis players who seem ready to break their boundaries and explore their limits within the ATP circuit.
Therefore, nothing better than a good list of names to keep an eye on throughout this season: players who, regardless of their ranking position, should delight fans and confirm their good form with respective leaps in quality. From players firmly established in the top 30, such as Flavio Cobolli or Learner Tien, to promising talents with medium to long-term potential, like Rafael Jódar or Henry Bernet, we analyze seven players to follow in 2026.
Flavio Cobolli (#22 ATP)
With an increasingly diverse arsenal and an attractive and disruptive style of play, Cobolli appears more than ready to move up a notch and perhaps even threaten to reach the top 15 or top 10 in 2026. Following a successful year (two titles, one of them being Hamburg, an ATP 500 level event) and demonstrating that versatility is one of his great virtues (surprising the world with his run to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, a surface where expectations were not as high for him), backing it up by winning the Davis Cup as the leading player for his country could be a key factor to witness a true breakout. Adding a few more kilometers per hour to his serve and thus earning more free points seems to be a pending task that, if accomplished, would propel him even higher in the rankings.
Learner Tien (#26 ATP)
Winning your first ATP title and being crowned champion of the Next Gen Finals in just a month and a half often signals guaranteed success. The perfect springboard, why not, for a year of recognition among the best. With an unconventional style of play and an indiscernible approach for some power hitters, Tien seems adept at steadily raising expectations: from being a threat only in early rounds to establishing himself among the top thirty with the sky as the limit. Being a 'rara avis' must be his X factor, the point to work on and enhance so that the circuit takes even longer to figure him out: working with Michael Chang is another reason to closely follow him in 2026.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los siete tenistas a seguir en 2026: buscando a los grandes nombres del año