Top 5 coaches of 2025 ft. Carlos Alcaraz's ex-coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, Amanda Anisimova's coach Hendrik Vleeshouwers

Carlos Alcaraz and Amanda Anisimova were among the standout players in 2025. Tennis stars court considerable media attention due to their on-court results, as well as their off-court antics.

The success of a player rightfully makes them the center of attention. However, their coaches often fly under the radar. A good coach can completely transform a player's game, while a bad one can derail a player's career trajectory.

A few players stood out with their impressive results this year. On that note, here's a look at the top five coaches that helped their proteges accomplish their goals in 2025:

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#5. Amanda Anisimova's coach, Hendrik Vleeshouwers

Amanda Anisimova added Hendrik Vleeshouwers to her coaching team in June 2024. She had returned to the tour earlier in the season after being on a mental health break since the middle of 2023. Before becoming Anisimova's coach, Vleeshouwers previously was a part of Elise Mertens and Yanina Yickmayer's teams.

It didn't take too long for them to taste success. Vleeshouwers guided Anisimova to her maiden WTA 1000 final at the Canadian Open, ultimately coming up short against Jessica Pegula. However, that was a preview of what was about to unfold in 2025.

Anisimova set the tour on fire with her results this year, winning two WTA 1000 titles and reaching a couple of Major finals at Wimbledon and the US Open. She qualified for the WTA Finals, and eventually finished the season ranked No. 4. The American had only eight wins over top 10 players until 2024. She beat 10 of them this year, highlighting the incredible work done by Vleeshouwers in improving her game.

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#4. Iga Swiatek's coach, Wim Fissette

Wim Fissette and Iga Swiatek at the China Open 2025. (Photo: Getty)

Iga Swiatek parted ways with her long-time coach Tomasz Wiktorowski and brought in Wim Fissette as his replacement in October 2024. He had previously worked with the likes of Simona Halep, Naomi Osaka, and Victoria Azarenka, among others.

They didn't get a chance to test their partnership as Swiatek missed the Asian swing due to her suspension. The WTA Finals was the only tournament for them to try out their collaboration. The Pole was eliminated in the group stage.

The first half of the 2025 season was full of missed opportunities for Swiatek. The biggest of them being a missed match point in the semifinals of the Australian Open. She hadn't even reached a final since her triumph at the French Open 2024.

The pressure was building on Fissette, though he had a plan all along. Grass was Swiatek's weakest surface prior to this year, and his main goal was to change that. He led his charge to a runner-up finish at the Bad Homburg Open, and later to her very first Wimbledon triumph.

Fissette tinkered with Swiatek's game to make it suitable for grass. The latter beat Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in the Wimbledon final, an emphatic culmination of their risk. She won two more titles after that and finished the season ranked No. 2, highlighting their perseverance after a tough start to the year.

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#3. Aryna Sabalenka's coach, Anton Dubrov

Aryna Sabalenka has been with her coach Anton Dubrov since the start of this decade. They enjoyed another successful outing in 2025, though it wasn't without its fair share of hardships.

Sabalenka came up short in the Australian Open and French Open finals, and suffered another tough loss in the Wimbledon semifinals. However, she worked together with her team to emerge stronger than ever and won the US Open.

Aside from her victory in New York, Sabalenka won three more titles, including the WTA 1000 titles in Miami and Madrid. She capped off the year with a runner-up finish at the WTA Finals. She won four titles from nine finals this year, and finished the season atop the rankings for the second year in a row.

Dubrov knows how to handle Sabalenka's emotions, which often get the better of her. The two have weathered plenty of storms over the course of their partnership, and this year was no different.

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#2. Jannik Sinner's coaches, Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi

Jannik Sinner with his coaching team at the Paris Masters 2025. (Photo: Getty)

Jannik Sinner's coaches, Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi, have been by his side since 2022. They unlocked the Italian's full potential in 2024, leading him to the No. 1 ranking and two Major titles, and a total of eight titles from nine finals.

The 2025 season started off quite well for the Sinner camp. The 24-year-old successfully defended his Australian Open title. However, the sky came crashing down on him after he was handed a three-month ban stemming from his doping violations from a year ago.

Sinner returned to the tour in May, and blew three championship points in the French Open final. With encouragement from his team, he bounced back with a Wimbledon title. He concluded the year with three consecutive titles, including at the ATP Finals, and was ranked No. 2 at the end. Despite the trials and tribulations, it was a year to remember for them.

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#1. Carlos Alcaraz's ex-coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero

Juan Carlos Ferrero became Carlos Alcaraz's head coach in 2019. Their long-standing collaboration thrived in 2025, leading to a career-best season for the 22-year-old.

Alcaraz won eight titles from 11 finals, including the French Open and the US Open. He also finished the year ranked No. 1 for the second time in his career. Ferrero was honored with the Coach of the Year award for his efforts as well.

However, the two called it quits a week ago. On Wednesday, December 17, both of them took to social media to announce the end of their partnership. The move caught everyone by surprise, and the chatter surrounding the same has continued unabated. The six-time Major champion hasn't announced Ferrero's replacement as of now.

Edited by Rohit