WTA '20 to Watch' - 2015
Following on from the 2014 edition (which you can view here), the third edition of the '20 to Watch' is now up and running. The idea is to focus on twenty of the most promising teenagers in the WTA and to follow their progress throughout the year. The criteria are that the players must be below the age of 20 and must not start the year inside the top 100. There will be extended articles focusing on some of the players as the year goes on, but this page will serve as a summary of the twenty players, their performance thus far and their current activities.
The list will be updated weekly with their most recent performance and their current tournament.
Age: 19 (12 Apr 1995)
Nationality: USA
Initial World Ranking: 242
Age: 17 (07 May 1997)
Nationality: Russia
Initial World Ranking: 361
Age: 16 (15 Nov 1997)
Nationality: Spain
Initial World Ranking: 378
Age: 18 (24 Dec 1995)
Nationality: Estonia
Initial World Ranking: 162
Age: 17 (30 Jun 1997)
Nationality: Belarus
Initial World Ranking: 382
Age: 18 (24 Oct 1996)
Nationality: France
Initial World Ranking: 207
Age: 16 (10 Jan 1998)
Nationality: China
Initial World Ranking: 404
Age: 17 (08 Jun 1997)
Nationality: Latvia
Initial World Ranking: 305
Age: 18 (16 May 1996)
Nationality: USA
Initial World Ranking: 184
Age: 17 (05 Feb 1997)
Nationality: Canada
Initial World Ranking: 196
Age: 17 (17 Jul 1997)
Nationality: USA
Initial World Ranking: 370
Age: 15 (08 Apr 1999)
Nationality: USA
Initial World Ranking: 257
Age: 17 (16 Oct 1997)
Nationality: Japan
Initial World Ranking: 251
Age: 18 (08 Oct 1996)
Nationality: Spain
Initial World Ranking: 264
Age: 16 (21 Jul 1998)
Nationality: Czech Republic
Initial World Ranking: 496
Age: 17 (03 May 1997)
Nationality: Serbia
Initial World Ranking: 449
Age: 15 (28 Jun 1999)
Nationality: Czech Republic
Initial World Ranking: N/A
Age: 17 (07 Feb 1997)
Nationality: Ukraine
Initial World Ranking: 300
Age: 18 (12 Apr 1996)
Nationality: Russia
Initial World Ranking: 149
The list will be updated weekly with their most recent performance and their current tournament.
1. Barbora Krejcikova
Age: 18 (18 Dec 1995)
Nationality: Czech Republic
Initial World Ranking: 168
Nationality: Czech Republic
Initial World Ranking: 168
Current World Ranking: 190 (↓22)
2015 Record: 27-30
2015 Titles: 0
Biggest Win: Kiki Bertens (#68)
Worst Defeat: Ulrikke Eikeri (#596)
Last Tournament: WTA Limoges $125K Series (R32 loss to Kateryna Kozlova 7-6, 6-4)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Former Junior #3. Seven ITF titles so far, including two $25k events. First WTA main draw win against Sachia Vickery in Quebec City in 2014. Reached WTA doubles final in Luxembourg with Lucie Hradecka in 2014.
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Former Junior #3. Seven ITF titles so far, including two $25k events. First WTA main draw win against Sachia Vickery in Quebec City in 2014. Reached WTA doubles final in Luxembourg with Lucie Hradecka in 2014.
2. Jennifer Brady
Nationality: USA
Initial World Ranking: 242
Current World Ranking: 198 (↑44)
2015 Record: 21-15
2015 Titles: 1 ($25k Rock Hill)
Biggest Win: Romina Oprandi (#119)
Worst Defeat: Vania King (#773)
Last Tournament: ITF $50k Scottsdale, USA (R32 loss to Grace Min 7-5, 3-6, 6-4)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Eddie Herr QF in 2012 losing to Belinda Bencic. First ITF title at $25k event in Redding in September 2014. Reached the final of the $50k event in New Braunfels in October 2014.
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Eddie Herr QF in 2012 losing to Belinda Bencic. First ITF title at $25k event in Redding in September 2014. Reached the final of the $50k event in New Braunfels in October 2014.
3. Darya Kasatkina
Nationality: Russia
Initial World Ranking: 361
Current World Ranking: 75 (↑286)
2015 Record: 53-15
2015 Titles: 5 ($25k Daytona Beach, $25k Caserta, $25k Minsk, $25k Minsk, $50k Saint-Malo)
Biggest Win: Carla Suarez Navarro (#14)
Worst Defeat: Valentyna Ivakhnenko (#318)
Last Tournament: WTA Moscow (SF loss to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 2-6, 6-2, 6-4)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: French Open junior champion in 2014 and former Junior #3. Won two ITF titles in 2014, including winning three matches in one day in Telavi. Made WTA main draw debut in Moscow in October 2014.
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: French Open junior champion in 2014 and former Junior #3. Won two ITF titles in 2014, including winning three matches in one day in Telavi. Made WTA main draw debut in Moscow in October 2014.
4. Paula Badosa Gibert
Nationality: Spain
Initial World Ranking: 378
Current World Ranking: 228 (↑150)
2015 Record: 17-11
2015 Titles: 1 ($25k Denain)
Biggest Win: Lauren Davis (#58)
Worst Defeat: Georgia Brescia (#434)
Last Tournament: WTA Moscow (Q loss to Natalia Vikhlyantseva 6-3, 6-1)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Two junior Grade 1 titles and current junior #10. First ITF $10k title in November 2013 and reached first $25k final in Victoria in October 2014.
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Two junior Grade 1 titles and current junior #10. First ITF $10k title in November 2013 and reached first $25k final in Victoria in October 2014.
5. Anett Kontaveit
Nationality: Estonia
Initial World Ranking: 162
Current World Ranking: 91 (↑71)
2015 Record: 40-21
2015 Titles: 1 ($50k Eastbourne)
Biggest Win: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (#31)
Worst Defeat: Melis Sezer (#473)
Last Tournament: WTA Luxembourg (Q loss to Julie Coin 7-5, 4-1 RET.)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Former junior #4 and reached US Open junior final in 2012. Nine ITF titles over past four years. Played main draw WTA matches in Auckland, Miami, Bucharest and Bastad in 2014. Qualified for first Grand Slam at Wimbledon 2014.
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Former junior #4 and reached US Open junior final in 2012. Nine ITF titles over past four years. Played main draw WTA matches in Auckland, Miami, Bucharest and Bastad in 2014. Qualified for first Grand Slam at Wimbledon 2014.
6. Iryna Shymanovich
Nationality: Belarus
Initial World Ranking: 382
Current World Ranking: 568 (↓186)
2015 Record: 7-8
2015 Titles: 0
Biggest Win: Maria Sakkari (#210)
Worst Defeat: Oleksandra Piskun (#928)
Last Tournament: ITF $50k Versmold (R32 loss to Carina Witthoeft 6-2, 6-3)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Current junior #4 and Youth Olympic silver medalist. Has won three ITF titles and recently qualified for first ITF $50k event in Istanbul.
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Current junior #4 and Youth Olympic silver medalist. Has won three ITF titles and recently qualified for first ITF $50k event in Istanbul.
7. Oceane Dodin
Nationality: France
Initial World Ranking: 207
Current World Ranking: 154 (↑53)
2015 Record: 25-28
2015 Titles: 1 ($25k Shrewsbury)
Biggest Win: Jelena Jankovic (#21)
Worst Defeat: Kelly Versteeg (#588)
Last Tournament: ITF $25k Shrewsbury (F win over Freya Christie 7-6, 7-5)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Four ITF titles, including three in 2014. Reached first ITF $100k final in Poitiers in October 2014, which included two wins over top 100 ranked opponents.
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Four ITF titles, including three in 2014. Reached first ITF $100k final in Poitiers in October 2014, which included two wins over top 100 ranked opponents.
8. Shilin Xu
Nationality: China
Initial World Ranking: 404
Current World Ranking: 296 (↑108)
2015 Record: 14-12
2015 Titles: 0
Biggest Win: Fangzhou Liu (#144)
Worst Defeat: Harriet Dart (#409)
Last Tournament: ITF $100k Nanjing (SF loss to Yulia Putintseva 6-1, 6-1)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Current junior #1. Youth Olympic gold medalist and 2014 Osaka Mayor's Cup champion. Two ITF titles and made WTA main draw debut in Wuhan. Took set off Sabine Lisicki in Beijing in September 2014.
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Current junior #1. Youth Olympic gold medalist and 2014 Osaka Mayor's Cup champion. Two ITF titles and made WTA main draw debut in Wuhan. Took set off Sabine Lisicki in Beijing in September 2014.
9. Jelena Ostapenko
Nationality: Latvia
Initial World Ranking: 305
Current World Ranking: 84 (↑221)
2015 Record: 42-19
2015 Titles: 1 ($50k St. Petersburg)
Biggest Win: Carla Suarez Navarro (#9)
Worst Defeat: Vera Dushevina (#1100)
Last Tournament: WTA Moscow (Q loss to Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 3-1 RET.)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Former junior #2. Wimbledon junior champion in 2014. Multiple grade 1 junior titles including Roehampton and Eddie Herr. Six ITF titles, including three in 2014. First WTA main draw win in Tashkent in September 2014.
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Former junior #2. Wimbledon junior champion in 2014. Multiple grade 1 junior titles including Roehampton and Eddie Herr. Six ITF titles, including three in 2014. First WTA main draw win in Tashkent in September 2014.
10. Louisa Chirico
Nationality: USA
Initial World Ranking: 184
Current World Ranking: 111 (↑73)
2015 Record: 34-28
2015 Titles: 1 ($50k Dothan)
Biggest Win: Alize Cornet (#27)
Worst Defeat: Natalia Vikhlyantseva (#428)
Last Tournament: WTA Limoges $125K Series (F loss to Caroline Garcia 6-1, 6-3)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Former junior #6. Won first career $25k event in Padova in June 2014. Reached SF in both $50k and $75k events in 2014.
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Former junior #6. Won first career $25k event in Padova in June 2014. Reached SF in both $50k and $75k events in 2014.
11. Francoise Abanda
Nationality: Canada
Initial World Ranking: 196
Current World Ranking: 337 (↓141)
2015 Record: 12-19
2015 Titles: 0
Biggest Win: Irina-Camelia Begu (#33)
Worst Defeat: Akari Inoue (#691)
Last Tournament: ITF $50k Scottsdale (R32 loss to Naomi Broady 5-7, 6-1, 6-1)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Former junior #4. Won first ITF title at Port St. Lucie in 2014. Made WTA main draw debut in Washington. Qualified for first Grand Slam at US Open in 2014.
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Former junior #4. Won first ITF title at Port St. Lucie in 2014. Made WTA main draw debut in Washington. Qualified for first Grand Slam at US Open in 2014.
12. Katerina Stewart
Nationality: USA
Initial World Ranking: 370
Current World Ranking: 171 (↑199)
2015 Record: 31-14
2015 Titles: 3 ($10k Gainesville, $25k Palm Harbor, $50k Indian Harbour Beach)
Biggest Win: Louisa Chirico (#120)
Worst Defeat: Fanni Stollar (#1037)
Last Tournament: ITF $50k Scottsdale (R32 loss to Victoria Rodriguez 6-2, 1-6, 6-3)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: US Open junior SF in 2014. Three ITF titles in ten events in 2014. Won a qualifying round match at the 2014 US Open.
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: US Open junior SF in 2014. Three ITF titles in ten events in 2014. Won a qualifying round match at the 2014 US Open.
13. Catherine Cartan 'CiCi' Bellis
Nationality: USA
Initial World Ranking: 257
Current World Ranking: 229 (↑28)
2015 Record: 14-11
2015 Titles: 1 ($25k Rancho Santa Fe)
Biggest Win: Zarina Diyas (#32)
Worst Defeat: Darya Kasatkina (#350)
Last Tournament: US Open (Q loss to Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Victory over Dominika Cibulkova at 2014 US Open as wildcard entry. Two ITF titles in late 2014. Former junior #1. Won series of 30 of 31 junior matches earlier in 2014.
Read More: 'CiCi Bellis: Future Tennis Superstar?'
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Victory over Dominika Cibulkova at 2014 US Open as wildcard entry. Two ITF titles in late 2014. Former junior #1. Won series of 30 of 31 junior matches earlier in 2014.
Read More: 'CiCi Bellis: Future Tennis Superstar?'
14. Naomi Osaka
Nationality: Japan
Initial World Ranking: 251
Current World Ranking: 143 (↑158)
2015 Record: 27-17
2015 Titles: 0
Biggest Win: Nao Hibino (#78)
Worst Defeat: Laura Robson (#913)
Last Tournament: ITF $75k Toyota (SF loss to Jana Fett 6-4, 6-1)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Reached first ITF $25k final at Irapuato in March 2014. Qualified for first WTA main draw in Stanford in July 2014 and recorded first WTA main draw win beating Sam Stosur.
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Reached first ITF $25k final at Irapuato in March 2014. Qualified for first WTA main draw in Stanford in July 2014 and recorded first WTA main draw win beating Sam Stosur.
15. Sara Sorribes Tormo
Nationality: Spain
Initial World Ranking: 264
Current World Ranking: 181 (↑83)
2015 Record: 25-17
2015 Titles: 0
Biggest Win: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (#38)
Worst Defeat: Darya Kasatkina (#350)
Last Tournament: WTA Tashkent (Q loss to Kateryna Kozlova 6-0, 7-5)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Won European Junior Championships in July 2014. Five ITF titles, including first $25k title in Westende-Middelkerke in August.
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Won European Junior Championships in July 2014. Five ITF titles, including first $25k title in Westende-Middelkerke in August.
16. Marie Bouzkova
Nationality: Czech Republic
Initial World Ranking: 496
Current World Ranking: 383 (↑113)
2015 Record: 19-9
2015 Titles: 2 ($10k Grand Baie La Croisette, $10k Grand Baie La Croisette)
Biggest Win: Ysaline Bonaventure (#187)
Worst Defeat: Veronica Miroshnichenko (#NR)
Last Tournament: ITF $50k Saguenay (R32 loss to Michaella Krajicek 7-6, 3-2 RET.)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: US Open junior champion in 2014. Current junior #8. Won first career ITF title at Hilton Head Island in October 2014.
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: US Open junior champion in 2014. Current junior #8. Won first career ITF title at Hilton Head Island in October 2014.
17. Ivana Jorovic
Age: 17 (03 May 1997)
Nationality: Serbia
Initial World Ranking: 449
Current World Ranking: 240 (↑209)
2015 Record: 20-13
2015 Titles: 2 ($25k Istanbul, $25k Zawada)
Biggest Win: Vitalia Diatchenko (#81)
Worst Defeat: Veronica Kudermetova (#322)
Last Tournament: ITF $25k Zawada (F win over Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-2, 6-2)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Former junior #1. Beaten finalist in both French Open juniors and Orange Bowl. Four ITF titles in 2012 and 2013.
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Former junior #1. Beaten finalist in both French Open juniors and Orange Bowl. Four ITF titles in 2012 and 2013.
18. Marketa Vondrousova
Nationality: Czech Republic
Initial World Ranking: N/A
Current World Ranking: 393 (↑822)
2015 Record: 17-5
2015 Titles: 1 ($10k Zielona Gora)
Biggest Win: Ons Jabeur (#119)
Worst Defeat: Laura Ioana Andrei (NR)
Last Tournament: ITF $25k Bratislava (SF loss to Anhelina Kalinina 6-2, 6-4)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Current junior #12. Reached SF of both Wimbledon juniors and French Open juniors in 2014. Ranked #5 in juniors by Tennis Europe.
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Current junior #12. Reached SF of both Wimbledon juniors and French Open juniors in 2014. Ranked #5 in juniors by Tennis Europe.
19. Anhelina Kalinina
Nationality: Ukraine
Initial World Ranking: 300
Current World Ranking: 163 (↑137)
2015 Record: 31-19
2015 Titles: 3 ($25k Jackson, $25k Pelham, $50k Sacramento)
Biggest Win: Shelby Rogers (#86)
Worst Defeat: Alexandra Mueller (#512)
Last Tournament: ITF $25k Bratislava (F loss to Jesika Maleckova 4-6, 7-6, 6-4)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Former junior #8. Beaten US Open junior finalist and Youth Olympic bronze medalist. Beaten finalist in three ITF $25k events so far.
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Former junior #8. Beaten US Open junior finalist and Youth Olympic bronze medalist. Beaten finalist in three ITF $25k events so far.
20. Elizaveta Kulichkova
Nationality: Russia
Initial World Ranking: 149
Current World Ranking: 108 (↑41)
2015 Record: 39-29
2015 Titles: 1 ($50k Quanzhou)
Biggest Win: Varvara Lepchenko (#46)
Worst Defeat: Michaella Krajicek (#425)
Last Tournament: WTA Hua Hin (R16 loss to Nao Hibino 6-4, 6-4)
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Australian Open junior singles and doubles champion in 2014. Five ITF titles, including four $25k events. Qualified for four WTA events and won first WTA main draw match in Tianjin.
Read More: 'Elizaveta Kulichkova - Star of the Future?'
Next Tournament: N/A
Career Highlights: Australian Open junior singles and doubles champion in 2014. Five ITF titles, including four $25k events. Qualified for four WTA events and won first WTA main draw match in Tianjin.
Read More: 'Elizaveta Kulichkova - Star of the Future?'
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