Five scorching hot predictions for the 2025 WTA season

We are already one slam in the 2025 season and it saw a shocker in Madison Keys raising the trophy. Now might be a bit too late to make some hot takes for the 2025 season but where's the fun in that?

Linda Noskova wins a masters tournament

This is not boding well with how she's began her year, but I'm still a believer. At her best Linda is a flat basher like few others, and unlike some bashers like Alexandrova or Ostapenko her floor is not that low. I believe she'll be able to harness her ceiling in a big tournament this year and capture a big title.

Belinda Bencic finishes the year in the top 10

This might be an overreaction to her performance in the Australian Open but what I saw there was a woman who has not missed a beat coming off her pregnancy. That backhand is still world class, her decision making is on point and she's for sure a top 10 player in the world. Understandably she might not play a full schedule as a new mom, but if she does I'm confident she finishes in the top 10.

Iga Swiatek does NOT win Roland Garros

This won't be popular with a certain fandom but I think this is the year her dominance stops at Court Chartrier. What Naomi couldn't finish in the 2024 season the other girls will in 2025. Coco Gauff has caught up to Iga, Sabalenka is capable of beating her on clay, Rybakina has beaten her on clay the last two times they've played. Muchova, Keys, Ostapenko all can do the job. I think the list of players who are capable of beating her on clay has grown to the point a fourpeat is unlikely.

Petra Kvitova announces her retirement

Kvitova has had a hall of fame career, and I think at 34 years old she's ready to move on to being a mother and the next stage of her life. I don't see her restarting a grueling training regimen and coming back to the tour post childbirth. I can see her playing wimbledon and announcing her retirement there.

Emma Raducanu wins her second ever title

This prediction would've held a lot more steam a couple days ago when she was seeded at the Singapore Open which was eminently winnable. Sadly she was upset by Cristina Bucsa in the first round. Now she's on to Abu Dhabi which is loaded with top players and likely a barrage of masters afterwards. So it's unlikely she'll win a title anytime soon but the fact she was playing a 250 level tournament makes me hopeful this year she's not going to shun lower level tournaments completely. With the new rules limiting top players at 250 level tournaments, if Emma keeps playing in them I see her winning her second ever title in 2025, four years after her trascendent US Open win.