Ranked: The 5 best WTA players who could lift a first Grand Slam title in 2025
For the first season since 2014, no new Grand Slam women’s singles champions were crowned in 2024.
Aryna Sabalenka defended her Australian Open title and then won the US Open, while Iga Swiatek reigned once again at Roland Garros and Barbora Krejcikova lifted her second Slam at Wimbledon.
That trio, alongside the likes of Coco Gauff, will be among the leading contenders at the four Grand Slam events this season – but will a new face breakthrough and seal a maiden major title?
Ahead of the start of the new year, we rank the five women most likely to claim a first Grand Slam triumph in 2025.
5) Paula Badosa
Current Ranking: 12
Grand Slam Best: French Open QF 2021, US Open QF 2024
After years of struggling with injury, former world No 2 Badosa surged back into the top 15 of the WTA Rankings after a stunning second half of the season.
The Spanish star reached her second Grand Slam quarter-final at the US Open alongside making the last four of the WTA 1000 China Open and winning her fourth WTA singles title in Washington.
Ranked 12th heading into 2025, the 27-year-old is still searching for a significant Slam breakthrough, with just two major quarter-finals to her name.
But Badosa will be full of confidence heading into the new season and has the game to compete at all four Slams.
4) Emma Navarro
Current Ranking: 8
Grand Slam Best: US Open SF 2024
Navarro was one of the most improved players of 2024, and her results at the Grand Slams got better and better as the season went on.
That form culminated in a run to the last four of her home Slam at the US Open, weeks after reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals – beating Coco Gauff at both events.
Having cracked the top-10 towards the end of the season, the 23-year-old is well-placed to contend for majors from a rankings perspective.
Whether she can continue her major momentum from the past 12 months remains to be seen.
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3) Jasmine Paolini
Current Ranking: 4
Grand Slam Best: French Open RU 2024, Wimbledon RU 2024
Perhaps the biggest surprise of 2024 was the rise of Paolini, who rose from being the world No 30 at the start of the season to finishing the year ranked fourth.
The Italian’s rise was aided by becoming a two-time major finalist this season, finishing runner-up to Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros before losing the Wimbledon final to Barbora Krejcikova.
Paolini’s biggest challenge might be breaking through and beating the likes of Swiatek, Gauff, and world No 1 Sabalenka, which she probably will have to do to taste Slam success.
But, having reached the second week at all four Slams this past season, the 28-year-old should be considered a factor in all of Melbourne, Paris, SW19, and New York.
2) Jessica Pegula
Current Ranking: 7
Grand Slam Best: US Open RU 2024
After six previous Grand Slam quarter-final defeats, Pegula finally secured a landmark Slam run in 2024, reaching the final of her home major in New York.
That run saw her down then-world No 1 Swiatek convincingly in the last eight before rallying from a set and a break down to beat Karolina Muchova in the semi-final.
Outside of the US Open and hard-court summer, it was a difficult season for the 30-year-old, who struggled with injury across the clay season and towards the end of the year.
However, that run in New York will have eased some pressure, and a fit Pegula should be considered a significant factor at all four Grand Slams in 2025.
1) Zheng Qinwen
Current Ranking: 5
Grand Slam Best: Australian Open RU 2024
Having ended 2024 as one of the form players on the WTA, surely world No 5 Qinwen is better placed than anyone else to become a first-time major winner this coming season.
The Chinese broke through earlier than expected at the Australian Open last January, reaching her first Grand Slam final, and took her time to adjust after that.
However, a stunning second half of the year saw her triumph at the Olympic Games, win further titles in Palermo and Tokyo, and reach finals at the WTA Finals and Wuhan Open.
With a big serve, a booming forehand, and great all-court athleticism, the 22-year-old is Tennis365’s pick to become a first-time WTA major winner in 2025.
