ITF Class of 2024: Sara Saito
The ITF’s ‘Class of…’ series recognises players who have had a successful year on the ITF World Tennis Tour. It identifies the most promising breakthrough talents and those predicted to go on to bigger things.
This year’s group was decided by a panel of experts. Ashley Keber (WTA), James Marsalek (ATP), Mark Woodforde (ITF), Mary Pierce (ITF) and Nao Kawatei (ITF) voted on a shortlist of 14 players.
Next up is Japan's Sara Saito, who in 2024 sensationally conquered all before her at the highest level of ITF World Tennis Tour event.
In some respects, Japan’s Sara Saito was a player whose list of trophies did not necessarily reflect the esteem in which she was held. All that changed this season when she – a player long since touted as possessing huge potential – claimed a monumental victory.
Saito sensationally conquered all before her at W100 Biarritz – the highest classification of event in women's competition on the ITF World Tennis Tour – in June to seal the biggest title of her fledgling career.
View this post on Instagram
The 18-year-old had come close to silverware earlier in a year during which she focussed almost exclusively on professional events by reaching the final at W50 Nonthaburi and then W75 Burnie.
Saito’s moment was to come, however, and her success at W100 Biarritz added to her maiden triumph on the ITF World Tennis Tour at W25 Makinohara in October 2023. It also propelled her into the Top 200 of the WTA Rankings for the first time.
View this post on Instagram
Her rankings boost saw her gain a place in Qualifying for both Roland Garros and the US Open as she experienced a Grand Slam for the first time at senior level. She reached the third round of Qualifying in Paris – a match-win away from the main draw.
She is now ranked No. 156 in the world and is well set for an assault on the Top 100 in 2025 in what could prove another exciting season for a highly ambitious player with a seemingly prosperous future.
“I am glad to have been nominated as a member of the ITF’s Class of 2024,” said Saito, who represented Japan at the 2021 and 2022 Billie Jean King Cup Juniors Finals in Antalya, Turkiye.
“This year I was able to win at the highest level of ITF competition – the W100 at Biarritz – which helped me improve my ranking and allowed me to test myself at Roland Garros and the US Open.”
View this post on Instagram
The reason for suggesting Saito's huge potential was not always consistent with her trophy count was because there have been times in her career when she has perhaps fallen short of what might be descried as top honours.
She reached No. 2 in the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Rankings despite her best Junior Grand Slam result being quarter-final finishes – at last year’s US Open and January’s Australian Open.
Indeed, Saito’s biggest victory in junior tennis was the J500 title she won in Osaka in October 2022, while a couple of J300 crowns followed in 2023 as she triumphed at J300 Asuncion and J300 Porto Alegre.
That amounts to very impressive junior career but a departure from conventionalism which sees a lot of top juniors strive to win a Junior Grand Slam before progressing along the ITF player pathway.
View this post on Instagram
That does not appear to be Saito’s vibe given she only contested five Junior Grand Slams during her career, while she was a regular competitor on the ITF World Tennis Tour long before she featured at a Junior Grand Slam.
However, there are many routes to final destinations as history has shown and, in any case, a player's development is far broader and more nuanced than a simple list of age-group trophies.
Saito is a very impressive individual and since competing in US Open Qualifying in September she has beaten the likes of Jessica Bouzas and Elina Avanesyan, who are both in and around the Top 50, at the Japan Open – a WTA 250 event.
Despite only turning 18 in October, Saito has already contested 43 professional events (Grand Slams, WTA Tour and ITF World Tennis Tour) having played her first in June 2022. This is priceless experience as Saito turns her attention to the next stage of her career.
“This season was the season when Sara transitioned from junior tennis to professional tennis,” said Saito’s coach, Hayato Matsuda. “It was a year in which Sara was able to improve her ranking and develop her strengths, technique and mentality.”