But now we have arrived in August, and Andreeva is joined by four more super-talented teenage prospects, all of whom have announced themselves on stage in some form in 2025. So, who are these young starlets to keep an eye on ahead of the US Open?
Mirra Andreeva (18 years old)
World ranking: 5
Comfortably the most established and prestigious teenager in all of tennis, Andreeva is an otherworldly talent, and on her way to becoming a bona fide superstar of the sport. At a career-high ranking after enjoying a stellar 2025, there is little doubt that she will be a multiple Grand Slam champion.
In 2023, a 15-year-old Andreeva became the first and only player in ITF World Tennis Tour history to win more than one title at W60 level or above before even turning 16. She also became the third-youngest player to win a main draw match at a WTA 1000 tournament after beating Leylah Fernandez in Madrid, illustrating just how special she was and is.
She has taken her game to another level this year, improving her serve and ability to defend off the forehand wing. This has helped her win two WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells - becoming the youngest player to ever win a 1000 event.
The sky is the limit for Andreeva, and she will be one of the favourites to win a first Slam title at Flushing Meadows.
Victoria Mboko (18 years old)
World ranking: 24
One of the stories of the year, Victoria Mboko's title run on home turf in Montreal to clinch her maiden title was truly astonishing. The Canadian beat four Grand Slam champions as she won the WTA 1000 title, becoming just the third teen in the Open Era to do that - the other two were Serena Williams and Tracy Austin.
At the start of 2025, Mboko was ranked 333rd in the world, before she went on to win 20-straight matches, capturing four ITF titles in a row. This was a record for any Canadian woman at ITF events.
The way she strikes the ball from the back of the court is stunning, crushing the ball, especially off her backhand. Coupled with incredible athleticism, there is so much to like about her.
She had shown her talent and hitting prowess in spurts on the WTA Tour throughout the year, but there was little sign of her having such a breakout tournament in Montreal. Following her victory there, she soared up to 24 in the world rankings, and there will now be plenty of eyes on her at the US Open.
Maya Joint (19 years old)
World ranking: 42
Maya Joint's rise over the last year and a half has been simply meteoric. At the start of 2024, she was ranked at 684 in the world, before soaring up to just outside the top 100 at the start of 2025.
Nicknamed the 'Ginger Ninja', Joint's improvement this year has continued to be incredibly rapid. After becoming the youngest Australian to win a WTA 1000 match, she backed that up with the first two titles of her career in Rabat and Eastbourne. She overcame fellow young talent Alexandrea Eala in a thrilling final in the latter.
Blessed with a glorious backhand and fighting spirit, she reached the third round in Cincinnati - her best result at a 1000 event. She heads to the US Open now as she hopes to at least match her best result at a Slam, which came in last year's edition when she reached the second round in New York.
Iva Jovic (17 years old)
World ranking: 76
One of the most exciting and talked-about juniors in recent years, there is a reason the United States are so excited about Iva Jovic. In 2021, she won the U14 singles event at the prestigious junior Orange Bowl, and just two years later, she won her first ITF event in Redding.
In 2024, she received a wildcard for the US Open at 16, and she managed to beat Magda Linette in the first round for her first-ever WTA win. She also became the youngest American to win a women’s main-draw match at the US Open since 2000.
She would go on to reach the second round at both the Australian Open and French Open in 2025, before winning her first Challenger title in June at the Ilkley Open. Like Joint, she reached the third round at the Cincinnati Open, which was also her best result at a WTA 1000 event.
Jovic loves taking the ball early, and her aggressive and intense style makes her a fantastic watch. The American crowd at the US Open will soon fall in love with their up-and-coming star.
Tereza Valentova (18 years old)
World ranking: 94
The Czech Republic just love producing quality women's tennis players, and they look to have another gem on their hands in Valentova. The teen announced herself when she won the French Open girls' singles title in 2024 at 17 years old, where she defeated fellow Czech Laura Samson.
Her 2024 continued to be spectacular, as she won five trophies at ITF level. Consequently, she went into 2025 with bags of confidence, which saw her qualify for a Grand Slam for the first time at the French Open, even making the second round there.
Her success continued with a pair of Challenger titles in Grado and Porto, while also going on an impressive run on the WTA Tour, reaching a first semi-final at the Livesport Prague Open.
Her results saw her break into the top 100 in the world, and her next task is to get through qualifying as she eyes a spot in just her second Grand Slam main draw at the US Open.