Alycia Parks: Will 21-year-old be a breakout player of 2023 as she follows in footsteps of Serena and Venus Williams?

Breakout: suddenly and extremely popular or successful.

Every year there are breakout players on the ATP and WTA tours. This year, some of the more notable were Holger Rune, who reached the top 10 after starting outside the top 100, Britain’s Jack Draper, who moved up over 200 places in the rankings, and Zheng Qinwen, who rose over 100 places in the WTA rankings.

Who will be the breakout players to watch out for in 2023?

This week, we are profiling five players to watch out for in the year ahead. First up, Alycia Parks.

What did Parks do in 2022?

If it’s all about the finish, then Parks nailed it over the last couple of months of this season.

The 21-year-old American had her breakout showing at the WTA 500 in Ostrava in early October when she came through qualifying and beat former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova in straight sets, then came from behind to upset fifth seed Maria Sakkari. The win over Sakkari was fuelled by 59 winners, including 15 aces, while in the first set against Pliskova, the winner count was 15-1 in Parks’ favour.

Parks’ tournament wasn’t over when she lost to eventual champion Barbora Krejcikova in the quarters as she teamed up with Caty Mcnally to win the doubles title, beating the first, third and fourth seeds on their way to victory.

Not satisfied with those results – or her ranking, which was outside the top 150 – Parks opted to extend her season by flying back to Europe from the United States in late November. The move paid off. Parks made the semis at an ITF event in Valencia and then ripped off 10 wins in a row to lift back-to-back WTA 125 titles in Andorra and France. The victory in France included a 6-2 6-3 opening-round win over top seed Zhang Shuai, who is ranked at No. 25 in the world.

Parks is now up from No. 150 in the rankings to No. 75.

Why could Parks have a big 2023?

Because she has a big game.

You might remember that at the 2021 US Open, Parks tied the record for the fastest serve at the tournament by a woman, matching Venus Williams with a 129mph bomb. It tied Parks for fifth on the list of all-time fastest serves on the WTA Tour.

With such speed, Parks’ serve is one of her biggest weapons and she also has a powerful ground game that is well suited to the indoor courts she has enjoyed success on over the last month.

Like many other Americans, Parks has been inspired by Serena and Venus Williams. She hit with both at this year’s US Open and has described Serena as “literally tennis”.

“It felt good at the US Open that I got to hit with both of them. Serena especially, because I look up to Serena. She’s the GOAT of tennis. What can you do besides look up to her? She’s literally tennis.”

When she was 17, Parks said that she has tried to incorporate a bit of both Serena and Venus Williams into her game. “I pattern myself after Serena because of her serve, but I also like Venus’ movement,” she told The Palm Beach Post.

Parks does not hesitate when there’s a chance to attack and looks comfortable coming into the net, as she has shown in doubles, where she has won titles recently with Zhang and Asia Muhammad.

Parks has been tipped for a breakout year, along with fellow American Katie Volynets, by former Grand Slam champion Sloane Stephens. “My two girls. Big year for them coming up. You heard it here first,” said Stephens on Instagram.

What have they said?

Parks to the WTA: “If I keep playing like this, how I’m feeling now, I should be going through draws pretty freely. I do see myself top 10 next year, which is pretty high, but it’s definitely doable. So I think top 10 next year is a goal for me.

“I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to be playing main draws because everyone knows it’s a grind coming through qualies. I think that’s what I’m most excited for because when I’m well-rested, that’s when it’s hard to stop me. So next year is up from here.”

Key stats

• Age: 21
• Current singles ranking: No. 75
• Highest singles ranking: No. 75
• Coached by: Michael Parks
• Honours: Two WTA 125 titles

Did you know?

As a teenager, Parks was a body double for Serena Williams in a Gatorade commercial.

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