By Erik Gudris | Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Several players, like Nick Kyrgios, who have yet to reach age 20 made serious strides in their careers during this season.
Photo Credit: Kieran Galvin/CameraSport
2014 saw a number of young players announce themselves in a big way. Here's a look back at those who aren't waiting around for the "big two zero" to make their mark in the world of pro tennis.
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Nick Kyrgios
Australia's Nick Kyrgios got on many tennis fans' radars after losing to France's Benoit Paire in five sets in Melbourne. But it was at Wimbledon where Kyrgios declared he was a player to reckon with right now.
In a bravura performance filled with poise and astonishing shotmaking, the 19-year-old Kyrgios defeated then World No. 1 Rafael Nadal in four sets to reach his first ever Grand Slam quarterfinal.
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Though it took him some time after to deal with becoming a worldwide star, Kyrgios appears ready for more glory in 2015. Recently, Kyrgios won his country's Newcombe Medal as Australia's most outstanding tennis player for this season. His nation certainly hopes Kyrgios is ready to add his name to Australia's long list of major champions starting at next year's Australian Open.
Belinda Bencic
This junior standout, sometimes coached by the mother of Swiss great Martina Hingis, made big strides on the main tour this season.
In Charleston, Bencic reached her first ever Premier WTA semifinal. That result propelled her into the top 100 rankings for the first time. The 17-year-old Bencic later in the summer reached her maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal at the US Open. By the end of the season, Bencic found herself at a career high ranking of No. 32 in the world after reaching her first final in Tianjin.
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On her success, Bencic said in April, "I think everything has improved a little bit. Just more consistency and more that my focus is always there, so not just one set and the other one I play bad, but now it's better. I can hold it through the match."
Bencic, through her thoughtful shotmaking style, could well follow in Hingis' footsteps and claim a few titles in 2015 while still a teenager.
Borna Coric
Following in the footsteps of Goran Ivanisevic and Maric Cilic, Croatia's Borna Coric could well become that country's next Grand Slam champion.
The junior standout made his breakthrough this season in Basel where he defeated several top ranked players before taking on Rafael Nadal. Coric earned his best win ever over Nadal to reach his first ATP semifinal.
That result pushed Coric into the ATP top 100 making him the first 17-year-old to do so since 2004.
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With Coric's favorite sport besides tennis being boxing, it makes sense that few will want to step into the proverbial ring next year against this hungry and talented young force.
CiCi Bellis
America's search for its next great tennis champion may have ended with 15-year-old CiCi Bellis.
By winning the USTA's 18-and-younger National Playoff this past summer, Bellis earned a wildcard berth into the US Open. In her opening round match, she found herself taking on Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova.
Despite the vast gap in experience between both players, Bellis rose to the occasion. Bellis, cracking winners on a packed Court 6, eventually pulled off the big upset win 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.
With that, Bellis became the youngest American to win a match at the US Open since Mary Joe Fernandez reached the third round as a 14-year-old in 1986.
“I have no words,” Bellis said to ESPN's Darren Cahill. “I’m so happy to be here. I can’t believe I got through that.”
Alexander Zverev
17-year-old Alexander Zverev couldn't have picked a better place than his hometown of Hamburg, Germany to have his breakthrough moment this season.
Having never won a main draw ATP match before, Zverev defied the odds by first knocking out Mikhail Youzhny. That result made Zverev the first 17-year-old to defeat a top 20 player in over 10 years. He backed that up by becoming the youngest ATP quarterfinalist since Rafael Nadal reached the Bastad quarters in 2003.
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Zverev, a former junior No. 1, then later beat fellow German Tobias Kamke to reach his first ever ATP semifinal. That win made him the first 17-year-old to reach a ATP semi since Marin Cilic in 2006.
Donna Vekic
The young Croatian star continued her steady climb up the WTA ladder in 2014.
After being the youngest player a few years ago to reach a WTA final since 2006, Vekic took the next step this season. Vekic won her maiden WTA title at Kuala Lumpur defeating Dominika Cibulkova in the final.
Vekic, with her title run, was also the first player under 18 to win a WTA title since Vania King won Bangkok in 2006.