Nominees Unveiled for ATP Breakthrough of the Year: Draper, Fonseca, and More!
The exclusive ATP No. 1 Club, comprising 29 elite members, will cast their votes for the winner.
Date: November 26, 2025
ATP
Meet the nominees for Breakthrough of the Year: Jack Draper, Joao Fonseca, Jakub Mensik, and Valentin Vacherot!
Report by ATP Staff
This year’s ATP Tour was packed with thrilling moments, marked by astoundingly talented newcomers who took center stage at prestigious tournaments, challenging the status quo.
For the first time, the coveted Breakthrough of the Year award will be determined by the votes of the 29 distinguished members of the ATP No. 1 Club. Let’s delve into the profiles of the four standout nominees.
Jack Draper
At just 23, Draper has showcased his fierce competitiveness and skill, skyrocketing from No. 18 to a stunning No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings. His crowning achievement? Securing the coveted title at the ATP Masters 1000 in Indian Wells and reaching the fourth rounds at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros. Not to be outdone, he also made impressive finals appearances in Doha and Madrid.
Joao Fonseca
This Brazilian sensation has emerged as a promising star on the Tour in 2025, building upon his success from the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. He made history at the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires by becoming the youngest South American champion since 1990, and later took the title at Basel, making him the third-youngest ATP 500 champion ever. Starting the year outside the Top 100, he now stands proudly at No. 24.
Jakub Mensik
Living the dream at the ATP Masters 1000 in Miami, Mensik shocked fans and competitors alike by defeating Top 5 players Taylor Fritz and Novak Djokovic in stunning fashion. Describing his final victory over his idol Djokovic, he said, “It was probably the biggest day of my life.” He started the year ranked No. 48, but climbed to an impressive No. 16.
Valentin Vacherot
In a magical turn of events, Vacherot, who entered the Shanghai event as a No. 204-ranked qualifier with only one previous ATP win, made history by becoming the lowest-ranked ATP Masters 1000 champion ever. After triumphing over his cousin Arthur Rinderknech, he gained a whopping 1,020 PIF ATP Ranking points, propelling him to World No. 40. His exceptional journey continued with a quarter-final finish at the Rolex Paris Masters, where he reached a new career-high at World No. 30.
