WITH so much going on in the world and much focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, it is worth taking a step back and remembering that the future of international sport will return, and when it does, there will be plenty of talented youngsters ready to make their mark. On the WTA Tour alone there are six players who are ranked inside the top 100 who were born this century (2000 or later) and have already had a big impact on the Tour.

#6 Bianca Andreescu (Canada)

Hard to believe US Open winner is still only 19-years-old, but that is exactly the case with Andreescu. The Canadian had only won two matches at a Grand Slam previously, but she went all the way in 2019 to announce herself on tour and continue her rise into the top 10. It came after stunning victories in Indian Wells and Toronto, and there have not been many more impressive first three titles than that – two 1000 tournaments and a Grand Slam – defeating one of the greatest players of all time in Serena Williams in the latter.

#25 Dayana Yastremska (Ukraine)

A month older than Andreescu, Yastremska is the top ranked European teenager, though she turns 20 next month. Like Andreescu, Yastremska has also won three titles, with her maiden one coming in Hong Kong back in 2018, then being successful in Hua Hin and Strasbourg last year. The Ukrainian impressed in Adelaide earlier this year to make the final, and then defeated Sofia Kenin in the Qatar Open prior to the season being postpones. Still inconsistent, Yastremska has nice shots that will allow her to be a real danger to her opposition in the future.

#28 Amanda Anisimova (USA)

Unfortunately the talented 18-year-old lost her father last year and it became more of the talking point around her tennis coming into 2020 than her actual on-court game. Anisimova is a talented player who is still realistically a couple of years away from maturing and being a regular title winner on tour. She unfairly copped it for a first round exit at Melbourne Park and compounded by a similar loss in Dubai, but showed up her critics by defeating a couple of in-form players in Ekaterina Alexandrova and Elina Svitolina in the Qatar Open most recently. Anisimova just has the one title – at Bogota – but will be eyeing off a top 20 spot when the tennis returns. Of all players on tour, the break will likely benefit Anisimova more than others.

#48 Iga Swiatek (Poland)

Does not receive the same plaudits as others her age despite being the second highest ranked European on the list. The 18-year-old Pole has already represented her nation the past couple of years and was successful on the ITF circuit, winning seven titles across three season. The 2019 WTA Tour season was her first top 100 finish, and she reached a final at Lugano. Still yet to win a maiden title, Swiatek reached the fourth round at the Australian Open, beating higher ranked players along the way.

#51 Coco Gauff (USA)

In the polar opposite to Swiatek, Gauff is arguably the most recognisable 16-year-old sports star on the planet. She needed just the one upset win last year at Wimbledon – defeating Venus Williams – to rocket her into the spotlight, but if that was not enough, then a Round of 16 finish at Melbourne Park certainly was. She defeated Williams again, then decided to topple reigning champion, Naomi Osaka in straight sets before tiring against eventual champion, Kenin in three sets. Gauff won a maiden 125K event at Linz last year, and has two doubles titles to her name showing she can play both formats. The hype is real, but spectators have to remember she only turned 16 last month, so still needs time to develop.

#84 Anastasia Potapova (RUS)

Having just turned 19 over a week ago, Potapova still well and truly fits in this category. Currently ranked 84th with a career-high ranking of 64th, Potapova does not receive the same plaudits as others, and had a shaky start to the year in 2020. Still needing to get through qualifying which she failed to do in her first two tournaments, Potapova ran into Serena Williams at Melbourne Park. An upset win over Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in St Petersburg, followed by back-to-back quarter finals runs in Mexico would have given her confidence when it returns.