Ksenia Efremova, the rising star in the world of tennis that excites France

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 3 Feb 2026 | 09.41

Ksenia Efremova, rising star. Photo: gettyimages

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She isn't just any Junior Grand Slam champion. The name Ksenia Efremova has been resonating strongly in the world of tennis for years. Her natural talent that has stood out since childhood, her family history, and her French nationality have all contributed to generating media attention, which has skyrocketed after her title at the 2026 Australian Open in the junior category.

There are young players with an innate talent for tennis, child prodigies who excel in lower categories and seem destined for glory but end up broken toys. Such a scenario was feared for Ksenia Efremova, a girl who at 12 had amassed thousands of social media followers and had endorsement deals with brands like Nike. However, the newly crowned champion of the 2026 Australian Open Junior seems to be on the right path to succeed.

This is the story of Ksenia Efremova's precocity in tennis

At 16, she is the daughter of a former professional tennis player. She started playing because at just 3 years old, she picked up a racket and began hitting the ball with perfect technique that amazed her mother and everyone present. Her father passed away from cancer in Russia, and she moved to France with her siblings and mother to see if her immense talent could be nurtured. And it has. This is the story of Ksenia Efremova, a young player who landed at the Mouratoglou Academy, becoming the long-term project of the controversial French coach.

The progression of the Russian turned French national at just 14 is neither logical, customary, nor even advisable for many other girls who could have been burnt out under all the pressure surrounding them. In 2023, she became the youngest player in the last two decades to win a professional title, raising all expectations around her. With over 83,000 followers on Instagram and being nurtured by the French Tennis Federation as the great hope to see a local champion at Roland Garros again.

Her shot power, coordination, and innate ability to do everything on the court are astounding both insiders and outsiders, along with an unusual maturity for her age. The most recent comparable case could be Mirra Andreeva, who at 16 started appearing on the professional circuit with tremendous force. After winning in Melbourne, Ksenia admits that she would like to compete in more professional tournaments, but it's not up to her.

Efremova states she'd like to play more professional tournaments, limited by her age

"I turn 17 in April, and from then on, I'll be able to compete in more professional events. If it were up to me, I would already be transitioning to the WTA circuit, but there are age restrictions for girls like me, so I'll try to choose well which professional tournaments I compete in. My goal is to break into the top 200 this year and be able to play in the qualifying rounds of the Grand Slams, although I'll continue to compete in Junior Grand Slam events. I know I still have a lot of work to do," Efremova said after winning in Australia.

When asked what this triumph means, Ksenia Efremova is clear. "I've been dreaming of winning a title of this caliber for a long time. In the moments of suffering in Paris, training hard, I visualized this title. I have a very strong character and I am very stubborn. I have to be more receptive and patient with my coaches," states the young player who seems to possess everything it takes to cause a real earthquake on the WTA circuit if she continues this progress.