While the indoor season isn’t exclusively an end-of-the-season thing, most indoor events do take place in the final few weeks of the year, including the ATP Finals. It’s a unique part of the season where there is a combination of tiredness and urgency that you don’t get in any other stretch of the tennis calendar. Let’s see what the 2025 indoor season might have in store for us.
Six players to watch in the 2025 indoor tennis swing
- Holger Rune
Holger Rune has fallen behind since initially breaking out in 2022. Bottom line, the Dane has found playing consistent tennis to be a significant challenge.
However, he found form in Shanghai, so the upcoming weeks are key. Was last week just a good run or a sign of better times to come? Never forget that Rune rose to a high of world No 4 after an incredible surge indoors, especially in Paris, where he bested Novak Djokovic to capture his maiden ATP 1000 trophy.
Doing that again would prove he belongs among the top, which hasn’t been the case for quite some time. Read more about Holger Rune’s racquet.
- Novak Djokovic
Speaking of Djokovic, the Serb showed a decent level in Shanghai, but largely struggled physically due to the conditions in China.
He won’t have the same concerns indoors, which is why this upcoming indoor season will tell us a lot about him. For Djokovic it’s not just about results, it’s about whether he plays at all. The 38-year-old could feature in as many as three events before the conclusion of the season, realistically – the Hellenic Championship (already registered for), as well as the Paris Masters and ATP Finals.
If he plays and has a strong run at these events, he’ll prove that he’s still one to watch next year. But if he continues to struggle or totally disappoints, the Serbian might just become an afterthought in the world of tennis.
- Jannik Sinner
Another player whose movements will be closely watched is Jannik Sinner. The Italian will be eager to claw some ground back over the upcoming weeks, after retiring in Shanghai and being eclipsed by Carlos Alcaraz at the top of the rankings.
Generally, he’s considered the better indoor player compared to Alcaraz. He’s currently trailing him in the race, and while he’s no longer able to regain world No 1, momentum for next year will be key.
If Sinner fails, many will start to wonder whether the Italian can keep up with Alcaraz, whose ascension in the past few months has been incredible to witness.
- Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev returned to form in Shanghai, but it won’t mean much if he doesn’t keep playing that way. This season has been really tough for the Russian, who fell behind the top names, becoming more of a top-20 player than a top-10 player. This upcoming stretch will show whether his progress in Shanghai under new coaches Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke is legitimate, or fools gold.
Indoor events are where Medvedev has been dominant in the past, particularly during this part of the calendar.
- Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev has always been a solid indoor tennis player, but this year’s indoor season is a pivotal one for the German.
At 28 years old, Zverev is entering a crucial stretch of his career – do or die, as they say – which will largely determine his legacy as a tennis player. He hasn’t been fantastic in recent weeks, but he has the potential to finish the season on a high note thanks to his powerful serve, which, unbothered by indoor conditions, is a massive weapon.
If he can finish strongly, he will set himself up for what might be one of the most important seasons of his career in 2026.
- Andrey Rublev
Another player who made his bread and butter indoors is Andrey Rublev. Six of his eleven trophies won on hard courts came indoors, and he’s been fantastic there since early in his career.
Lately, things haven’t gone well for the Russian, and he’s far from his best tennis and ranking. Expect Rublev to be quite motivated in the upcoming weeks, trying to capture some of that indoor magic he’s had in the past, otherwise, he risks dropping even further in the rankings.
String together some good results, and Rublev could still be a bolter to make the ATP Finals. He sits No 13 in the Race to Turin currently, 1,015 points shy of eighth spot.
2025 Indoor Swing Tournament Schedule
Here’s how the calendar looks heading into the 2025 indoor tennis swing, with nine events remaining before the season concludes:
October 13–19: Almaty Open
There isn’t a long tradition of ATP tennis being played in Kazakhstan, as the first iteration of this event was established in 2020 during the pandemic. It was held in Astana for a few years, moving to Almaty this year for the first edition in that city. This is an indoor hard court event with a very low-bouncing surface, which makes playing there quite different from the usual experience. It belongs to the lowest ATP 250 category. Karen Khachanov won last year’s event. He’s back this year but not alone, as Medvedev is also playing.
October 13–19: BNP Paribas Fortis European Open
This is a relatively young event, established only nine years ago in 2016, but it generally features a strong entry list. Initially held in Antwerp, it moved to Brussels this year. It’s an ATP 250 event with somewhat slower conditions, similar to the Rotterdam Open. Last year’s champion was Roberto Bautista Agut. The top seed this year is Lorenzo Musetti, who will be challenged for the trophy by Felix Auger-Aliassime, Jiri Lehecka, Joao Fonseca, and Belgians Zizou Bergs and David Goffin.
October 13–19: BNP Paribas Nordic Open
Tennis in Stockholm has been played for a very long time, with this event established back in 1969, 56 years ago. The ATP Stockholm event is a typical indoor one with rather fast conditions, which draws very aggressive players. Last year’s champion was Tommy Paul, who won’t be back this year, but other big names like Rune, Casper Ruud and Matteo Berrettini will compete.
October 20–26: Erste Bank Open
One of the more popular indoor events is the ATP 500 Vienna, which traditionally boasts very strong entries. First played in 1974, it belongs to the middle tier of ATP 500 events. Last year’s champion was Jack Draper, who won’t return this year. In his place, we’ll have a fantastic entry list headlined by Sinner, alongside Zverev, Medvedev, Musetti, and Rublev.
October 20–26: Swiss Indoors Basel
A relatively small event that began in 1970, the Basel tournament was elevated over the years by Roger Federer, who never missed it since it was held in his hometown. It remains one of the bigger tournaments of the year. As an ATP 500, it is typically headlined by players who prefer fast conditions. Last year’s event was won by Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who will face strong competition this year from the likes of Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and Jakub Mensik.
October 27–November 2: Rolex Paris Masters
The last Masters event needs no introduction. It’s been held since 1969 and has been a staple of the ATP calendar. It’s most famous for producing a lot of surprise winners, as many of the top names look ahead to the ATP Finals. Even so, it almost always features the strongest entry list possible, and this year is no exception. Last year’s champion was Zverev, who will be back, along with Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic, and others.
November 2–8: Hellenic Championship
Athens once featured an ATP event that was abolished in 1994, but it’s returning to the calendar in 2025 with what will be the first edition of the Hellenic Championship. It’s an ATP 250 event, and for a first edition, it will feature a strong entry list headlined by Djokovic, along with Stefanos Tsitsipas and Khachanov.
November 2–8: Moselle Open
The event in Metz isn’t one of the older ones, as it’s been around for only 22 years, but it has been a staple in the calendar for many years. It doesn’t usually feature the strongest entry list, but it has given many players their first trophy, so it’s rather fondly remembered by many on the tour. Last year’s champion was Benjamin Bonzi, while this year’s event will feature Auger-Aliassime and Alexander Bublik.
November 9–16: Nitto ATP Finals
The ATP Finals is the final event of the calendar, and while not as prestigious as a Grand Slam, it’s considered the final showdown between the best in the world. That’s how it’s designed: the top eight players of the past year battling it out (more on how the ATP Finals qualification works). Naturally, the contestants have been superb, as has the champions list. Last year’s champion was Sinner, with this year’s entry list still to be determined, though we know Sinner and Alcaraz will be there.
