Christmas is almost here! 'Tis the season for gift giving, holiday parties, ugly sweaters, wishing upon stars, and hearing Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas" nonstop -- I mean, seriously, can you go in any store this time of year and not hear it?
In 2025, American tennis saw some ups, some on-court magic, and even some fireworks, courtesy of the Taylor Townsend - Jelena Ostapenko bruhaha. All that said, however, we also bore witness to many downs; our fan favorites and familiar faces suffered throughout the course of the year.
But a new day, a new year, brings new opportunities for success. So, inspired by the season and Mariah's evergreen holiday jingle, I found myself thinking: What "gifts" do we fans want to see from American tennis by Christmas time next year?
What we would like to see from American tennis players in 2026
Coco Gauff's serve has been a detriment, but can she turn it into a force to be reckoned with?
The two-time Grand Slam champion leads the charge for American tennis; she's been red-hot off the court. On the court, her serve has been a glaring flaw. We all recall Coco's tears at this year's US Open, born from her serve going awry.
To remedy that, she brought in "Serve Whisperer," Gavin MacMillan. Under his tutelage, I want Coco's serving woes to be a thing of the past. If she wants to be one of, if not the greatest, players to ever pick up a racket, then she needs to master her serve.
Taylor Fritz needs to win big, and can he do it before Ben Shelton breaks through?
Plain and simple, the top-ranked American male lacks a Grand Slam title. Right now, Fritz sits with Sasha Zverev in the "Very good player" tier staring up at the Elites. I want Fritz to win big, not just be the best American male, of which he might not be able to claim that title for long, since the next man I'm going to discuss is rapidly closing in on him.
So, Fritz, get you a Major win, send a message to everyone (especially Novak Djokovic).
Like Fritz, Ben also lacks a Grand Slam title. However, at 23, I'd argue his ceiling is higher than that of the 28-year-old Fritz. Why? Because his talent is as big and as loud as his screams during his matches. I believe he has the game and demeanor to break through that Terror Twin duo of Sinner and Alcaraz. Even the legendary coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, thinks so, too.
Facing a career plateau, will Francis Tiafoe and Jessica Pegula conquer their walls?
Shelton's charisma twin, Francis Tiafoe, is usually seen with a smile, enjoying himself, and bringing not just his rackets, but his energy to the court. Though behind that smile, Francis is gazing at the wall he's hit in his career.
In 2025, he's suffered early-round defeats in multiple majors and only reached a single major quarterfinal despite having reached major semifinals twice in the past. I want him, and he needs to conquer this wall. Otherwise, his path to being a "great" could stall prematurely.
I've previously discussed the hurdle facing Jessica Pegula, so at this point, I want the wait for her to win her first Grand Slam to be over. Nothing is given to anyone in any sport; that said, tennis fans know she's long overdue to capture a major title.
I'd be lying if I didn't feel like her chances to win compared to the field were akin to wishing upon a star, but I did say this was the season for that, didn't I?
Can Madison Keys and Amanda Anisimova become perennial stars?
Madison Keys shocked the tennis world at the 2025 Australian Open when she defeated current world No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka. However, her major results for the remainder of the year didn't quite measure up to that monumental career win.
As amazing as that victory was, Madison has worked too hard for too long to be just a one-hit wonder. I want to see Madison not only be in the conversation to win, but actually win another major title again.
Although Amanda Anisimova didn't break through to win her first grand slam this year, she did break out in a major way. Overall, she achieved the best major results of any American player this year, noted by back-to-back major finals appearances, first at Wimbledon, then the US Open.
I know her peers, many of whom are also her competitors, are now wary of her when they see her name in the tournament draw. But has she truly arrived? Is she in full bloom? If so, I want to see it continue next year.
Will Venus Williams return to the doubles court...but this time, with Serena as her partner?
The "feel-good" story of the 2025 US Open was Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez taking the Doubles tournament by storm. As a pair, Venus and Leylah were sensational; I'd like to see them pair up again. BUT, candidly, I wouldn't be mad at a Williams sisters reunion either.
Recently, Serena shut down any notion of a return to play, but could she be persuaded by her big sister Venus to come out of retirement to play with her? I guess we'll see if we receive that gift. Happy holidays!