Every once in a while, a tennis player comes out of nowhere, grabs the spotlight, and makes everyone believe they’re the next big thing. But in a sport as brutal and unpredictable as tennis, sustaining that success is a whole different ballgame.
From shocking Grand Slam runs to sudden rankings jumps, these players had a moment where it all clicked, and then it just didn’t anymore. Whether it was due to injuries, inconsistency, or simply bad luck, their careers never quite lived up to the hype of that breakout year.
16. Jelena Dokic
She was a teenage sensation with a fearless game and a sky-high ceiling. But off-court chaos and injury struggles derailed what could’ve been a long reign near the top.
15. Jack Sock
For a minute, it looked like Sock was going to be America’s next big tennis hope. Then the results started to slip, his fitness faded, and he was suddenly better known for his doubles play.
14. Anna Kournikova
Kournikova’s fame exploded far beyond the court after a few early flashes of brilliance. Unfortunately, the wins didn’t follow the buzz, and her singles career stalled quickly.
13. Ernests Gulbis
Gulbis reached a French Open semifinal and looked like he might finally get serious. But that momentum vanished almost as quickly as it came, and he returned to being tennis’s ultimate wildcard.
12. Melanie Oudin
Her U.S. Open breakthrough had everyone chanting “BELIEVE,” and for a while, it felt like she was the next American star. Then the wins dried up, and her moment passed just as fast as it came.
11. Grigor Dimitrov
Dubbed “Baby Fed” for his fluid game and elegant style, Dimitrov had a huge year that put him in the top 10. However, he never quite reached those Federer-level expectations, and inconsistency became his trademark.
10. Marcos Baghdatis
Baghdatis had an electric run to the Australian Open final and stole hearts with his passion. Sadly, that ended up being the peak, as injuries and inconsistency followed.
9. Genie Bouchard
She reached the Wimbledon final and looked poised to become a global superstar. However, her game never evolved, and the pressure of fame may have taken a toll harder than any opponent could have.
8. Jerzy Janowicz
Janowicz’s booming serve and surprise Wimbledon semifinal turned heads. But nagging injuries and erratic play kept him from ever recapturing that magic.
7. Laura Robson
The British press had her pegged as the next big thing after some early upsets and a breakout Olympic moment. But injuries constantly knocked her off track, and her full potential never got a proper shot.
6. Bernard Tomic
Tomic had the game and the swagger, and for a brief period, he backed it up with results. But effort and attitude issues made headlines more often than match wins.
5. Nicole Vaidišová
She was in the top 10 before she could even legally drive in some countries, but burnout came early. Vaidišová retired shockingly young, leaving fans wondering what could’ve been.
4. Fabio Fognini
Fognini had the talent to hang with anyone and a career year that hinted at top-tier consistency. But his fiery temperament and rollercoaster play meant that year stayed an outlier.
3. David Nalbandian
He beat Federer, made a Wimbledon final, and had one of the best backhands of his era. But that one breakthrough season was as close as he ever got to sustained greatness.
Read More: 20 Tennis Players Who Were Way More Popular Than Their Records
2. Sara Errani
Her run to the French Open final and a top-five ranking was unexpected and thrilling. But once her serve disappeared and the confidence dipped, she never truly recovered.
Read More: 20 Tennis Players Who Got Paid More Off the Court Than On It
1. Naomi Osaka
She had a breakout that most players dream of, winning Slams and taking over the sport. However, after a flurry of success, she left the sport temporarily to have her baby and hasn’t been able to return to the top – yet.
Read More: 15 Tennis Stars Whose Self-Importance Reached Hall of Fame Levels
