From established stars continuing to shine on the world stage to young talents breaking through the ranks, next year promises another season of standout performances from the Brits. 

Ahead of the new season, we’re running through nine British tennis players to keep an eye on in 2026. 

Emma Raducanu 

Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu has just completed one of the most consistent seasons of her career.

The Brit reached the semi-finals in Washington, made a quarter-final appearance at the WTA 1000 event in Miami, and rounded off the year ranked inside the world’s top 30 for the first time in three years, thanks to her solid form across the season. 

Raducanu could be set to climb even higher in 2026, with the British No.1 well placed to push back into the top 20 if she can build on the progress she made this year during the early stages of the new season. 

She’s already got her season underway Down Under after making her United Cup debut before she heads to the Australian Open where she’ll look for a deep run in Melbourne. 

Jack Draper 

Despite missing the final four months of the season through injury, 2025 proved to be one of the best seasons of Jack Draper’s career to date. This year, the British No.1 evolved from an exciting prospect to a genuine contender on the ATP Tour thanks to a series of impressive performances this year. 

His run to a maiden Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells was remarkable in itself, but even more so when you look at the players he overcame along the way. Former Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz, former US Open semi-finalist Ben Shelton, six-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune were among the names the Brit defeated en route to the prestigious title. 

His success didn’t stop there though. Draper went on to reach a second Masters 1000 final in Madrid, reached the fourth round at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros and broke into the world’s top five for the first time. 

With his trajectory firmly pointing upwards and with, hopefully, the injury concerns behind him, the sky appears to be the limit for Draper heading into 2026.

Sonay Kartal 

British No.2 Sonay Kartal made significant strides this year, which led her to clock a new career-high ranking of No.44 this year.  

Alongside that, she also reached her first WTA 1000 quarter-final at the China Open, recorded her first win over a top 10 player and made the fourth round at a Grand Slam for the first time - results that underline her growing consistency and confidence at the elite level. 

Heading into 2026, Kartal will be hoping to continue the momentum she’s built up over the past 12 months. Having gained plenty of experience competing at the top flight of the sport, against the world’s best players week-in-week-out, the Brighton-born star will arrive in 2026 well placed to continue her steady rise. 

Mimi Xu 

Mimi Xu wrapped up the year ranked No.257 in the world, having jumped almost 250 places in the WTA rankings in just 12 months. 

The 18-year-old has made an impressive transition from the junior ranks to the professional tour, and has shown her potential on both the ITF and WTA tour this year. During this year’s British grass court swing, Xu knocked out top seed Alycia Parks in the opening round of the Lexus Birmingham Open – her WTA 125 debut - before progressing to the quarter-finals. 

Xu continued to flourish as the season went on, with her defining moment arriving in October when she claimed her first W100 title at the Lexus Wrexham Open - the biggest title of her career to date. During that run, she proved she has the ability to compete with players far more experienced than herself and with plenty more of those opportunities on the horizon, Xu will be one to keep an eye on next year. 

Greg Slade 

Greg Slade could be primed for even more success in 2026 on the Uniqlo Wheelchair Tennis Tour. 

Slade - who last year captured a silver medal in the quad doubles at the Paris Paralympic Games alongside Andy Lapthorne - has reaped the rewards of another year of hard work, producing a series of standout performances across both singles and doubles games. 

The 23-year-old closed out the year having added two singles and three doubles titles to his collection, while also ticking off a major milestone in his career by reaching his first Grand Slam doubles final at Wimbledon. 

As a result, Slade finished the year ranked world No. 9 in quad singles and No. 11 in the doubles rankings, placing him in strong stead heading into the new season. 

Jack Pinnington Jones 

Amongst other players who stepped into the spotlight this season is Jack Pinnington Jones. 

Following a summer to remember in which he sealed his first ATP Challenger title at the Lexus Nottingham Open and clinched his first Grand Slam main draw win, Pinnington Jones decided he would not return to college at Texas Christian University and instead, decided to pursue his professional career. 

It was a decision that has so far paid off for the 22-year-old, who went on to secure a second Challenger title in Winston Salem in September and edge closer to the ATP’s top 200. 

With full focus on his professional career, Pinnington Jones looks well placed to continue his ranking rise and will be one to watch across the ATP Challenger and ATP Tour. 

Francesca Jones 

Francesca Jones has enjoyed a stellar second half of the year - with the British No.3 cracking the WTA top 100 for the first time. 

The 25-year-old has long been known for her impressive clay court game and this year, wrapped her hands around two WTA 125 titles - the biggest of her career so far. Add on top the two W75 titles she picked up in Prague and Vacaria and Jones has made 2025 her most decorated year of her career so far. 

She will enter the 2026 season not only ranked at No.73 in the world but with plenty of confidence and belief in her game. With her ranking in as strong a position as it is, Jones will have the opportunity to compete at some of the biggest tournaments on the WTA Tour next year including the Australian Open where she’s received direct entry into the main draw for the first time in her career. 

Julian Cash & Lloyd Glasspool 

In the world of doubles, Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool will undoubtedly enter 2026 as the team to beat. 

This year, the all-British duo were one of the most dominant pairs on the ATP Tour, capturing seven titles, including a Masters 1000 trophy and their first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. 

To make things even better, Cash and Glasspool capped off an outstanding season together by becoming the first all-British doubles pairing to be crowned year-end doubles world No.1s. While there’s a strong British doubles contingent eager to knock Cash and Glasspool off the top of the world rankings, the pair will be hoping to continue their remarkable run into the new season.