In a thrilling announcement, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has crowned Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner as the 2025 ITF World Champions, presented by UNIQLO. This recognition marks a notable achievement for both players, as they have each secured this prestigious title for the second consecutive time. Ten players across various categories, including doubles, wheelchair, and juniors, were also honored last week.
David Haggerty, the ITF President, remarked on the remarkable performances of these athletes throughout the 2025 season. He expressed confidence that all recognized players will continue to excel in 2026 and wished everyone an enjoyable off-season.
Sabalenka’s exceptional year saw her maintain the World No. 1 ranking while adding to her illustrious career with her fourth Grand Slam title at the US Open. Additionally, she achieved runner-up finishes at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros and reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon, showcasing her versatility on all surfaces. Sabalenka also celebrated victories in Brisbane, Miami, and Madrid, culminating in a remarkable nine finals this season, which led the WTA Tour in titles, match wins, and the number of finals reached.
On the men’s side, Sinner had an equally stellar year, becoming the first player since Novak Djokovic to claim the men’s singles World Champion title in consecutive years. In 2025, Sinner reached the finals of all four Grand Slam events, triumphing at the Australian Open by defeating Alexander Zverev and capturing his first Wimbledon title against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. He did, however, fall short in the finals at Roland Garros and the US Open, with the former match being hailed as one of the greatest in the sport’s history. He wrapped up the season by adding titles in Beijing, Vienna, Paris, and the ATP Finals.
In the women’s doubles category, the dynamic Italian duo of Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini were honored as ITF World Champions for the second consecutive year. This victory extends Errani’s record for the most World Champion accolades in women’s doubles to five. They achieved their first Grand Slam title together at Roland Garros, following their Olympic gold medal at the same venue just ten months prior. Paolini celebrated her first Grand Slam doubles win while Errani marked her sixth.
Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos made history as the men’s doubles World Champions, marking the first time players from Spain and Argentina garnered this title. Their journey included winning their first two Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros and the US Open, breaking a streak of three final losses. The pair also managed to secure three other Tour-level titles throughout the season.
In wheelchair tennis, Yui Kamiji, Tokito Oda, and Niels Vink received individual accolades in their respective categories, with both Kamiji and Vink achieving their third World Champion honor. Meanwhile, Oda has claimed the title for the second year in a row.
On the junior circuit, Bulgarian Ivan Ivanov made history as the first player from his country to win an ITF World Champion title, while Kristina Penickova from the United States was named junior girls World Champion, a first for an American in this category since 2017.
Haggerty celebrated all the ITF World Champions, highlighting the unforgettable moments from the previous year and offering well-wishes for the upcoming season. The selections were made based on objective criteria, with a significant focus on Grand Slam results and major ITF competitions, such as the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup.
The 2025 World Champions will receive their awards in a ceremony set for 2026, recognizing their outstanding contributions to the sport and setting the stage for another exciting year ahead.
