Watch 5 lesser-known players at Wimbledon 2025
The Grass Court Grand Slam Dream Kicks Off at Wimbledon
The wait is over for the Tennis Fans as the Grand Slam buzzed with the unique energy once again at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, London, in Wimbledon 2025. As the qualifier rounds are underway till Thursday, June 26th, 2025, just a stone’s throw away from the main venue at Roehampton.
As the field witnesses 128 both men and women players battling to etch their in the 16 spots available for both men’s and women’s main draws. The tournament features 32 seeded players and 8 wild cards. Nevertheless, these early qualifiers indicate the unfiltered intensity that fuels the ambition to strive to save the spot for them in the biggest stage.
Once again, the iconic Centre Court and Court 1 will intrigue the fans by featuring elites of this game. Undoubtedly, the eyes will crave to support the formidable lineup of champions and top contenders, whether it be defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who will aim for his third title at SW19. The current World No.1 Jannik Sinner will look for his first Wimbledon crown in 2025. Moreover, even WTA queens like Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff captivate much of the attention with their proven abilities and prowess.
However, going beyond these major game elites, tracing Wimbledon’s rich history of introducing the world to a new tennis sensation is always at the forefront. As the grass-court field exposes players to a new playing environment, it allows many individuals to showcase their skills. Let’s take a look at the five lesser-known players, a mix of up-and-coming talents, who are tenacious competitors. Whose performances can upset a few elites and become the breakout stars of Wimbledon 2025.
Five Lesser-Known Players to Watch at SW 19: Breakout stars of Wimbledon 2025
1. Jacob Fearnley
Who is Jacob Fearnley?
The 23-year-old British player, Jacob Fearnley, has been rapidly improving his game. He set a benchmark for himself with the highest ranking of 49th in the world. The young guy has gained a separate fanbase for playing a strong attacking strategy, especially on faster surfaces like grass. Before becoming a professional tennis player, he won his university team American college tennis a major national championship in 2024.
His nature of playing the game:
Fearnley’s response on court have put him under the aggressive player list, where he likes to hit the ball hard and earn points into his favor quickly. This style often works very well on grass, where the ball skids faster and stays lower.
Wimbledon history so far:
The 23-year-old’s first appearance at Wimbledon main draw was in 2024. Which means he had a bit of relaxation over not going through the qualifying matches last year. Moreover, with his first match victory he etched an achievement, but then lost to the 24 grand slam singles winner, Novak Djokovic in the second round. Where Fearnley managed to win at least one set against him, indicating his grass-court potentials.
Current Situation and how leading up to Wimbledon 2025
He bagged a couple of ATP Challenger titles in late 2024, an interesting category of professional events held just below the main ATP Tour level, meant for helping players climb the rankings. It was in October 2024, when he set on the trail of top 100 in the world after starting the year quite low. His strong determination and consistency in 2025, made him reach the third round of both the Australian Open and the French Open, showcasing that he has potential to compete at the highest level. Even at the recent sets of events on grass fields, he had a fabulous match at the Queen’s Club Championships, securing him a semifinals spot.
2. Botic van de Zandschulp
Who is Botic van de Zandschulp?
At 28, the Dutch Player is ready to break the barrier between the ups and downs. Being at 22nd world rank just a couple of years back. He is now ready once again to make his own game and prowess stands out with hands over different types of shots.
What is his style of playing?
Very few out there have taken a closer look at the Botic van de Zandschulp shots. His consistent shots and serves from the back of the court proved him to be a tough opponent to break down. He can challenge the top contenders at the court when he’s playing at his best.
What is his Wimbledon history so far?
In 2022, Zandschulp performed well, where he succeeded to the fourth round, which is often considered as the strong result at the Grand Slam level with getting seeded. Whereas, back in 2021, he actually got into the main draw at Wimbledon as a lucky loser and registered his first match victory.
Current Situation to leading up to Wimbledon 2025:
Botic showed the world a big sign of his potential by beating Novak Djokovic at a huge tournament in Indian Wells that was held in March this year. This purely not just to anticipate his capabilities but proved he can still play at a very high level. After a tough qualifying match recently on grass in Mallorca, he is honing his movements with considering them as a warm-up session on the surface and looking to build momentum for Wimbledon.
3. Nishesh Basavareddy
Who is Nishesh Basavareddy?
The 20-year-old American standout college tennis player has finally turned into a full-time tennis professional after a successful tennis career at Stanford University. Being one of the best tennis players, his world ranking rose to 99th place in June 2025.
What is his style of playing?
Highly known for bringing on intellectual play on the court and the inculcated ability of adapting to various situations.
What is his Wimbledon history?
Being a prodigy, he didn’t have many chances at Wimbledon. Tracing back to his 2024 season, where he played in the qualifying round at the Wimbledon but couldn’t draw to the mains. However, this year, he will be competing in the first round match in court 6 on 30th June, 2025 as debut appearance in the main draw.
Current Situation to leading up to Wimbledon 2025
Nishesh’s big statement came after his first major tournament at the Australian Open 2025, where he won a big set against the tennis elite Novak Djokovic. Which was enough to grab a ton of attention and his competency proved how far he can actually go being best. Further, he claimed two ATP Challenger titles in 2024 and continued to climb up in the rankings in 2025. Even his victory against an experienced tennis professional Botic van de Zandschulp at the grass-court qualifying match was enough to indicate his potential with finding his feet on the surface and how he can be considered a real threat further in the sets.
4. Olga Danilovic
Who is Olga Danilovic?
The 23-years-old Serbian Player, Olga Danilovic, the highest world ranking for her this year has been up to the 33rd in the world. Her powerful game is a result of the moments and prowess the way she serves at different angles and hits the ball with a determined attitude towards the game.
What is Her style of playing?
She is the one who likes to take charge of points with the strong groundstrokes. When her power game is working, then she becomes a real threat to face at the court.
What is her Wimbledon history so far:
She comes with quite a good grass-court experience and in addition with the history of facing and triumph at the qualifiers matches. Danilovic has played in the Wimbledon main draw before, after she passed the qualifiers in the 2024. Moreover, in 2023, she not just made it through the qualifying to secure a spot in the main draw, but within she reached up to the 3rd round.
Current Situation to leading up to Wimbledon 2025
Olga started the 2025 on high-note, especially if we talk about the performance on clay courts, where she made through the qualifiers to the third round at the French Open. Showcasing her perseverance spirit towards the tournament, it got profound where Leylah Fernandez and Danielle Collins lost to her.
In recent times, she was seen competing at the Bad Homburg Open, a pure grass-court tournament that can be proved a value addition for Wimbledon. There she successfully navigated the qualifiers, although she lost in the first-round main draw match against Naomi Osaka in two tiebreak sets. Yet, this shows her potential and sharp prowess over shots at grass-court events.
5. Bianca Andreescu
Who is Bianca Andreescu?
Bianca Andreescu, the 25-years-old Canadian had a few tough years with the injuries, especially the one with appendectomy in early 2025. That has made her ranking to slide from the world top 100 ranking. Despite all these, one must remember that her famous victory at the US Open in 2019 wasn’t just the luck factor for the former Grand Slam Champion. Going beyond all the injuries, her pure talent that makes jaw-dropping shots which often turns into a celebrating side for her on the courts.
What is her style of playing?
Her playing style is extraordinary and she delivers a very unpredictable game. Using a mix of powerful shots, with slices and drop shots to the opponents keep on analysing her next moves. Beyond this, other than being mentally strong, she shows a never-say-die attitude with strong fighting spirits.
What is her Wimbledon history so far:
Despite her US Open triumph, Wimbledon is yet to be her most successful Grand Slam due to injuries. In both the years, 2023 and 2024, she managed to reach the third round. Even in 2017, she actually had to play through the qualifying rounds to make her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon. This year again, because her ranking is lower, she had to compete in the qualifying rounds at Wimbledon, where she won her first match but then lost in the second round,which means she won’t draw in the mains this time.
Current Situation leading up to Wimbledon 2025
Bianca is still coming back from her recent array of injuries and included an emergency appendix surgery earlier this year. She has been so focused on getting her body in shape that she showed glimpses of good tennis when she reached the quarterfinals of a grass-court warm-up tournament at ‘s-Hertogenbosch a few weeks ago. She qualified for Wimbledon, winning her first round but losing in the second round, which ended her journey at Wimbledon for the year 2025.
