The WTA Women’s tour is officially over. It is now time to look at what 2021 will bring us in the women’s tour, especially when it comes to the top 5 players to watch. Here’s our list!

5. Daria Kasatkina (#71)

Daria is the veteran of this list at 23 years of age. As many can recall, she finished in the top 10 in 2010 by reaching two Grand Slam quarterfinals and the final of Indian Wells. There were high hopes for Kasatkina in 2019 and 2020, however they did not materialize. Daria has too much talent to not get back into at least the top 20 in the world. Free of injury and with the right coaching staff in place, she may very well make some noise in 2021.

4. Marta Kostyuk (#99)

Kostyuk is another Ukranian with a bright future. There is a lot of buzz around this player, who at just 18 years of age made the third round of the US Open and gave Naomi Osaka all she could handle in a three-set loss which included a gutsy second set tie break win by the Ukranian. In the end Osaka would be too tough for the Ukranian. That being said, she showed some incredible athleticism and grit. Look for Marta to win her first WTA tournament in 2021 and a top 50 finish.

3. Leyla Fernandez (#88)

Leyla is one tough customer, and at 18 years of age, she posted some impressive results in 2020, reaching the final of the Mexican Open, and the second round of the US Open and third round of the French Open. Those are great confidence builders for a player that is expected to break through in 2021. With more consistency week in and week out, Leyla can be a fixture in the top 20 for years to come.

2. Coco Gauff (#48)

The youngest and arguably the most talented player on this list at just 16 years old, Coco’s ranking allows her to enter the main draw at most tournaments. In 2021 this will only help her continued rise to the top of Women’s tennis. This 16-year-old will turn 17 in March and as she works herself into a full time professional, she will also easily work herself into the top 20 in 2021.

1. Iga Swiatek (#17)

Big things are on the horizon for Iga Swiatek. The way she destroyed the field at the French Open this year was not a fluke. Iga’s game seems to have come together at the French Open, and she will be a force to be reckoned with at all major tournaments in 2021. Nobody in the French Open field was able to handle her deep and heavy ground stroke game. She made Simona Halep look ordinary. I don’t see anything other than a top five finish for Swiatek in addition to a French Open title defense.

Like always, don’t forget to jump on to the TennisPAL app to stay up to date on tennis news, find groups of friends to play with, and get a virtual coach to help with your tennis game.