The 2025 tennis season may have wrapped up its official tour events, but the sport’s energy is far from fading. In fact, as the calendar flips to December, the global tennis community is gearing up for a whirlwind of high-profile exhibition matches, power rankings shakeups, and headline-making player matchups that promise to keep fans on the edge of their seats until the 2026 season swings into action.
Let’s start with the year’s final power rankings—a hot topic for fans and pundits alike. Elena Rybakina, long seen as a player with world-beating potential, has finally seized the spotlight. After a season that saw her clinch victory at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, toppling both Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek in the process, Rybakina has surged to number one in the end-of-year power rankings. Although she holds the official WTA world number five ranking, her late-season form and big-match wins have put her at the top of the pundits’ list. As one analyst noted, "Elena Rybakina has always had the potential to be the best player in the world, and while we’re apprehensive about calling her that, we are comfortable declaring her number one in the power rankings right now."
Not far behind, Aryna Sabalenka has maintained her iron grip on the official World No. 1 ranking, capping off a season of remarkable consistency. Sabalenka’s run at the WTA Finals in Riyadh was solid, though Rybakina proved too strong in their showdown. Her visible disappointment during the trophy ceremony was a testament to her competitive spirit, but there’s no doubt she can look back on 2025 with pride. "She didn’t disappoint in Riyadh either, playing solid tennis overall, though not quite good enough to beat Rybakina," one report observed. Still, her year-end World No. 1 status is a major achievement, and she sits firmly in second place in the power rankings.
Rounding out the top three is Amanda Anisimova, whose meteoric rise in 2025 has been one of the tour’s standout stories. Backing up her breakthrough with consistent performances, Anisimova made it out of the group stages at the WTA Finals and notched a notable win over Iga Swiatek. "Anisimova continues to prove that her meteoric rise this year wasn’t by chance or mistake, but rather a reflection of her new reality as one of the best players in the world," experts agreed. Her late-season surge has cemented her reputation as a force to be reckoned with heading into 2026.
But while the dust settles on the official tour, tennis barely pauses for breath. The off-season has transformed into a global showcase, with exhibition events scheduled across continents and featuring the sport’s biggest names. From North Carolina to Dubai, and from Shenzhen to Incheon, fans are in for a treat as stars trade ranking points for pride and entertainment.
The action kicks off on December 4 at the Charlotte Invitational, where legends Venus Williams and Madison Keys will headline alongside fellow Americans Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe. The event, held at the Spectrum Center in North Carolina, promises a festive atmosphere and a chance for fans to see top-tier tennis up close.
Just two days later, the spotlight shifts to Atlanta, where Aryna Sabalenka faces off against Naomi Osaka at The Atlanta Cup. Nick Kyrgios, never one to shy from the limelight, will take on Ben Shelton in what’s sure to be a lively encounter. The exhibition circuit then heads north to Madison Square Garden for The Garden Cup, featuring another Sabalenka-Osaka clash and Kyrgios versus Tommy Paul, capped by a mixed doubles showcase that’s bound to delight the New York crowd.
Meanwhile, December 7 brings the much-anticipated A Racquet at the Rock event in New Jersey. Carlos Alcaraz, the current world number one, will battle Frances Tiafoe, while Emma Raducanu takes on Amanda Anisimova. The evening will finish with a mixed doubles showcase featuring all four players—a tantalizing prospect for fans of both singles and doubles action. The following day, the Miami Invitational at loanDepot Park will see Raducanu and Anisimova square off again, with Alcaraz facing Brazilian up-and-comer Joao Fonseca. Once more, the event will conclude with a mixed doubles 10-point tiebreaker to keep the excitement high.
Alcaraz, who boasts a 69-8 match record in 2025 and has claimed eight titles—including the French Open and US Open—remains the man to beat heading into the new year. His most recent match saw him defeat world number seven Alex De Minaur at the Nitto ATP Finals, further underlining his dominance. On the women’s side, Iga Swiatek, world number two, wrapped up her season with a 62-17 record and three titles, including Wimbledon. She also reached the finals in Australia and Bad Homburg, demonstrating her remarkable consistency.
December’s tennis extravaganza doesn’t stop there. The World Tennis Continental Cup, running from December 26 to 28 in Shenzhen, China, will feature a star-studded lineup including Swiatek, Rybakina, Belinda Bencic, Wang Xinyu, Andrey Rublev, Flavio Cobolli, Arthur Fils, and Zhang Zhizhen. This team event, reminiscent of the Laver Cup, pits Team Europe against Team World and is certain to add a competitive edge to the off-season festivities.
Across the South China Sea, the Macau Tennis Masters (December 27–28) will offer fans a chance to see Jack Draper face Jakub Mensik and Mirra Andreeva take on Alex Eala. The Captain Challenge, featuring Grand Slam champions Li Na and Conchita Martinez, is sure to add an extra layer of intrigue and nostalgia to the event.
One of the most headline-grabbing exhibitions is the Battle of the Sexes in Dubai on December 28, where Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios will go head-to-head. Both stars will have already warmed up at earlier exhibitions, but this cross-gender clash is generating global buzz. With Sabalenka’s competitive fire and Kyrgios’s flair for showmanship, fans can expect fireworks on and off the court.
Not to be overlooked, the Hyundai Card Super Match in Incheon, South Korea, on January 10 will see Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner square off just days before the Australian Open. With so many top players using these exhibitions as a springboard into the new season, every match becomes a test of form and a preview of what’s to come in 2026.
As the tennis world embraces a truly global off-season, the message is clear: there’s no such thing as downtime in this sport. Whether it’s rising stars like Amanda Anisimova, established champions like Rybakina and Sabalenka, or crowd favorites like Venus Williams and Carlos Alcaraz, the stage is set for a December and January packed with drama, entertainment, and world-class tennis. For fans, the wait for the new season will be filled with plenty of reasons to keep watching, cheering, and dreaming of what’s next.