The Top Female Tennis Players We're Excited To Watch In 2023
When Serena Williams — perhaps the world's greatest athlete of all time — announced her retirement and said goodbye to tennis last summer, it left the world wondering: who's poised to lead the next wave of female tennis phenoms? This changing of the guard has been highly debated and speculated about with a young crop of pros rising in the ranks, and in popularity.
It comes as no surprise (or coincidence) that Netflix strategically released Break Point, a docuseries about the 2023 tennis season primarily focused on up-and-coming stars as they approach competitive tournaments like Wimbledon and the US Open. Break Point aims to hook a new audience on watching professional tennis by appealing to our collective love for reality TV, highlighting the drama of the sport on and off the court. It's also sure to bring a handful of female tennis players to the forefront, for us to keep tabs on for years to come.
Maria SakkariImage via Break Point/Netflix.
What the 2023 Australian Open women’s roster lacks in notable competitors, it more than makes up for in young talent fighting to occupy the vacated podium space. That being said, we are still going to miss seeing our fave Naomi Osaka's blazing forehand.
Female Tennis Players On The Rise In 2023
Currently ranked #1 in women's singles is Iga Swiatek, 21, and is the betting favorite. She is hoping to win yet another Grand Slam. Other female tennis players we're excited to watch who are all currently in the top ten singles ranking are Jessica Pegula, 28, looking for her 3rd career singles title; Coco Gauff, 18, in line to win her first major; Maria Sakkari, 27, competing for her first big career win; and Carolina Garcia, 29, who is no stranger to singles titles looking to continue her climb to the top.
Maria SakkariImage via Break Point/Netflix.
Check back in on this article throughout the tennis season for our top moments and more female tennis players on the rise.
Australian Open Notable Moments
It only took Zheng Qinwen 56 minutes to defeat Dalma Galfi 6-0, 6-2, the quickest match of the day! Qinwen, 20, won the first 11 games of the contest before the Galfi got on the board.
Iga Swiatek, 21, overpowered Camila Osorio, 21, 6-0, 6-2 for her 12th straight second-round win at a Grand Slam! What a match.
Sakkari beat rising star Shnaider, 18, after being down a set she won 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
It was Volynets (ranked 113) first time facing a top-10 player.
There were two huge upsets in the third round when reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, 23, took down world #1 Iga Swiatek, 21, and French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko, 25, knocked out Coco Gauff, 18.
Pegula talking about her unlikely defeat.
Aryna Sabalenka, 24, defeated Elena Rybakina, 23, in the final, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 to win her first Grand Slam title! This bumped her up to world number two. Sabalenka is such a powerhouse and we can't wait to continue watching her career develop.
Looking for more empowering entertainment news? Follow us on social for the latest.
Lead Photo: Courtesy of Pexels.
- Why We're So Excited About Coco Gauff At The U.S. Open - Brit + Co ›
- Barbie’s Newest ‘Shero’ Dolls Honor Some of Our Favorite Fierce Women - Brit + Co ›
- Bold Beauty: These Aesthetic Trailblazers Are Even Prettier on the Inside - Brit + Co ›
- Eating like Gwyneth Is About to Be Easy With Her New Restaurant - Brit + Co ›
- Josh O'Connor, Mike Faist Helped Zendaya Through Challengers Movie Training - Brit + Co ›
