Hold on to your rackets, tennis fans, because the 2025 ATP Awards nominations are HERE, and some of the names might surprise you! The ATP Tour has just announced the contenders for the prestigious awards, and the competition is already heating up. The winners will be unveiled during Awards Week, kicking off on December 8th, so mark your calendars!
Let’s dive into the nominees, revealed today, November 20, 2025, across key categories. First up, we have the player awards, and then we’ll look at the Coach of the Year – an often-overlooked but incredibly vital role in a player’s success.
The Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award: This award recognizes players who demonstrate exceptional sportsmanship, professionalism, and integrity on and off the court. It’s not just about winning; it’s about how you play the game. The nominees this year are a testament to that spirit. We see some familiar faces returning to the list. Grigor Dimitrov (who won in 2024), Carlos Alcaraz (the 2023 winner), and Casper Ruud (who took home the title in 2022) are all vying for the honor once again. Can they repeat their success? Or will a new contender emerge? Felix Auger-Aliassime completes the list, adding further depth to the competition.
The Breakthrough of the Year Award: This award celebrates the rising stars of the ATP Tour – the players who have made significant strides and achieved remarkable results in 2025. This year’s nominees are Jack Draper, Joao Fonseca, Jakub Mensik, and Valentin Vacherot. These are the names you’ll likely be hearing a lot more of in the years to come, so keep an eye on them! This award is especially exciting because it highlights the future of tennis. Which of these young guns will have the biggest impact?
Coach of the Year: Now, let’s move on to the coaches – the unsung heroes behind the players’ success. These individuals dedicate countless hours to honing their players’ skills, strategizing game plans, and providing unwavering support. This year’s nominees are:
* Benjamin Balleret (coach of Valentin Vacherot)
* Darren Cahill & Simone Vagnozzi (coaches of Jannik Sinner) – This is interesting; a co-coaching situation! How do you think that dynamic impacts a player’s development?
* Juan Carlos Ferrero & Samuel Lopez (coaches of Carlos Alcaraz) – Another co-coaching selection! Seems to be a growing trend.
* Frederic Fontang (coach of Felix Auger-Aliassime)
* Bryan Shelton (coach of Ben Shelton) – A father-son duo! Does that add extra pressure or create a stronger bond?
But here’s where it gets interesting regarding how these awards are decided… Nominees for the Breakthrough of the Year and the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award are determined by a vote from the International Tennis Writers’ Association (ITWA). This ensures that media perspectives and observations are taken into account. On the other hand, the Coach of the Year nominees are selected through a first-round voting process by ATP coach members. This means that the coaches themselves get to weigh in on who they believe deserves the recognition. Seems fair, right?
And this is the part most people miss… For the first time ever, members of the exclusive ATP No. 1 Club – the 29 current and former players who have reached the World No. 1 ranking – will decide the winners of the Breakthrough of the Year and the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award! Talk about a knowledgeable and experienced jury! The Coach of the Year winner, however, is still selected by fellow ATP coach members, maintaining a peer-based evaluation.
Remember, the ATP Awards winners, including the highly anticipated Fans’ Favourite awards, will be revealed during Awards Week, starting December 8th. Don’t forget to cast your vote for your favourite singles player and doubles team by Friday, November 21st! Every vote counts!
So, what do you think of the nominees? Are there any surprises? Do you agree with the selection process? Who are you rooting for, and why? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below! Who do you think deserves to win versus who will win based on politics and popularity? Let’s get the discussion going!