Meet the ITF Class of 2024
The ITF’s ‘Class of…’ series recognises and celebrates players who have had a successful year on the ITF World Tennis Tour, identifying the year’s most promising and breakthrough talents, and those predicted to go on to bigger and better things next year.
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), following a vote from a shortlist of 14 players.
Discover the ITF Class of 2024 in full below.
Tereza Valentova
Tereza Valentova, a 17-year-old rising Czech star, produced a stunning season on the ITF World Tennis Tour has delivered evidence to suggest that she is heading - at some pace - towards the upper echelons of the women's game.
Valentova was nothing short of a winning-machine between February and June, winning her first five professional singles titles in the space of five months with back-to-back wins at W15 Monastir, and higher-level wins at W75 Ricany and W75 Doksy–Stare Splavy either side of victory at W35 Sharm El Sheikh.
All this while still technically a junior - and she closed off her girls' career as stylishly as you could imagine, winning the Roland Garros girls’ singles title without so much as dropping a set, and adding the girls' doubles crown alongside Renata Jamrichova for good measure.
A worthy inclusion in the ITF Class of 2024 after a season which, in her coach Lukas Jelicka's words, has been "absolutely extraordinary".
> Read the full Tereza Valentova article
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Nicolai Budkov Kjaer
There is a sense of destiny with certain players. It is hard to quantify or explain but every now and then you have a feeling that a player has what it takes to make their mark in the game.
Norway’s Nicolai Budkov Kjaer falls into that category and while he would be the first to admit there is plenty of scope for improvement and development, his 2024 campaign suggests he is on the up.
In 2024 he combined success at junior level - reaching the pinnacle of the boy's rankings - with joy at professional events on the ITF World Tennis Tour, displaying remarkable consistency and endurance for his age by winning an incredible 64 singles matches through the season.
His father and coach, Alexander, notes his "great development" in 2024, and we can certainly expect more head-turning performances from the teenager in 2025.
> Read the full Nicolai Budkov Kjaer article
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Iva Jovic
Iva Jovic is just 17-years-old, but has enjoyed an extremely promising year on the ITF World Tennis Tour.
She won back-to-back titles during a highly profitable September and October at W35 Berkeley and W75 Rancho Santa Fe, building on her triumph at W25 Redding in October 2023, and also finished runner-up at W100 Tyler - the highest classification of event on the ITF World Tennis Tour.
Jovic admits that ITF events have "helped tremendously" in gaining exposure and matches against top level pros, while also priming her for competition at the highest level of the sport.
She made her Grand Slam main draw debut at the US Open and rather than feeling exposed, she played the match of her life to beat world No. 42 Maga Linette, before putting up a similarly impressive showing (in spite of defeat) in the second round.
Jovic deservedly takes her place within the ITF's 'Class of 2024'.
> Read the full Iva Jovic article
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Solana Sierra
The transition from junior tennis to the professional realm is not always straightforward, but 2022 Roland Garros girls’ singles runner-up Solana Sierra is making smooth progress.
The 20-year-old Argentine delivered an outstanding 2024 season that saw her win a joint tour-leading six titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour, including four in her home country, and continue her rise up the WTA world rankings, climbing to a career-high No.145 in October.
Aggressive, powerful, and headstrong, Sierra is the epitome of a player who has trusted the process and followed the ITF pathway - edging up her ranking to the point where she was able to compete in qualifying for all four Grand Slams in 2024, successfully battling through at the US Open to make her main draw debut at a major.
It might be a slow-burn more than a dramatic breakthrough, but Sierra is on course for a regular spot on the big stage.
> Read the full Solana Sierra article
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Sara Saito
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 in June at W100 Biarritz – the highest classification of event in women's competition on the ITF World Tennis Tour – to seal the biggest title of her fledgling career, and also reached finals at W50 Nonthaburi and W75 Burnie.
“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.”
She is perfectly poised to kick on again in 2024.
> Read the full Sara Saito article
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Learner Tien
Aptly named, the 19-year-old former junior world No. 4 has proven to be a mighty fast learner during his first year in professional tennis.
Tien's 2024 season has been a spectacular story of growth and progress, and his yearning to develop, and progress quickly, has borne out in his results on court.
Tien captured seven professional titles and recorded 60 match-wins across both the ITF World Tennis Tour and ATP Challenger Tour – super-charging his ranking and earning him a spot at the year-end Next Gen ATP Finals as a result.
"He's rising pretty fast," mentioned one colleague - Govind Nanda - who has twice fallen victim to Tien this year.
A double-digit ranking in 2025 feels within his grasp. Watch out for this one.
> Read the full Learner Tien article
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