The ITF’s Class of 2021 series recognises and celebrates players who have had a successful year progressing along the ITF player pathway, and beyond. The final category being unveiled this week identifies three players who have showcased considerable talent and potential this season. These are the Ones to Watch…  

For anyone involved in sport, whether a competitor, coach or supporter, there is always great store placed on being the first to identify a player as one to watch going forward.

Of course, there is even greater kudos should that individual continue their development, begin to realise their potential and start to make an impact on some of the biggest stages that particular sport has to offer.

In the world of tennis, there are many incredibly talented individuals out there who possess significant ability. But should any names be required to throw into raging debates on players ready to make their mark, here are a few with which to conjure.

The careers of Linda Noskova, Tokito Oda and Rodrigo Pacheco would appear to be on an upward trajectory, with all three making significant strides during 2021.

This intrepid trio would appear to have all the credentials to make an even greater splash in the coming years.

Linda Noskova

Linda Noskova emerged from the conveyor belt of talent which is Czech tennis to enjoy an outstanding year and lay a solid foundation for next season and beyond.

Of course, a phenomenal amount of work and sacrifice has been required throughout the 17-year-old’s tennis journey and the results she has produced this year have been a consequence of what has gone before.

However, in terms of her development, 2021 has been something of a breakthrough year for the teenager and the past 12 months have seen her tick numerous confidence-boosting and prestige-inducing boxes.

Her success has straddled both the junior and professional games, while she ends the season as the second-highest ranked player with a 2004 birthdate in the WTA standings, behind only Coco Gauff of the United States.

“I worked hard to get the results I have this season,” said Noskova, who began working with a new coach, Tomas Kroupa, in December 2020.

“I've put a lot of work into my tennis and physical preparation and that is why I was able to play many matches without being injured or extremely tired. I was able to play very well in many tournaments and that’s what gave me self-confidence going into the next matches.

“I started with a new coach and we get along pretty well which is always an advantage, and in 2022 I just want to improve as a player and I think that could get me a higher ranking and enable me to play bigger tournaments.”

The first indication that 2021 was going to be highly progressive campaign for Noskova came in her very first tournament of the season at W15 Sharm El Sheikh where she reached the final.

In doing so, she ended a five-match losing streak within the professional ranks dating back to December 2019. It is only right, however, to point out that some of those events were lofty in stature with the likes of Barbora Krejcikova and Mayar Sherif her opponents.

Even back in 2019, when she was aged just 15, Noskova was reaching the latter stages of ITF World Tennis Tour Women’s tournaments, but back-to-back titles at W15 Bratislava in March proved important milestones.

Then came her crowning moment within junior tennis when she became the first Czech girl since Hana Mandlikova in 1978 to conquer all before her at Roland Garros – a victory which propelled her to No. 5 in the junior world rankings.

Aside from a couple more junior tournaments, Noskova’s focus since triumphing on the clay courts of Paris has been the women’s ITF World Tennis Tour and further silverware has been added to her trophy cabinet.

Both these titles were claimed on home soil and included a career-best victory at W60 Prerov in August, before Noskova ensured the season ended on a high note with victory at W25 Milovice. Quite a season!

Coach’s View: Tomas Kroupa

“Linda’s development began in December 2020 when we started working together. We worked mainly on the pace of the game and on the development of shots, in terms of consistency, variability and keeping a position close to the baseline.

“After winning two tournaments in Bratislava, this success brought confidence which Linda could take into future matches. During the season, she also improved her fitness, and it was important that she remained healthy throughout the whole year.

“Looking to 2022, Linda should be looking to improve her footwork further, as well as the speed of her movement and her serve. Also, her approach to the net, volleys and overheads. So, basically everything.

“But that is what makes her a great prospect, the fact that she has so much to learn and is already so good.”

Tokito Oda

A year which started with the nation of Japan discussing the prospect of Shingo Kunieda and Yui Kamiji sealing Paralympic glory and triumphing on home soil at Tokyo 2020 has ended with the rise of its latest star.

Fifteen-year-old Tokito Oda has announced himself in a big way during 2021 and in such a fashion which suggests his emergence under the wheelchair tennis spotlight is not just a momentary dalliance, but something of substance.

“It is definitely a year during which everything changed a lot in my career,” said Oda. “I think 2021 will always be a key year for me when I look back on my career.”

Martial arts fan Oda, who made his UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour debut in August 2018 aged just 12, began the year ranked No. 7 in the boys’ rankings and No. 90 in the men’s. However, that was soon to change with dramatic effect.

He made his move early in the season and within a matter of months onlookers were taking serious note of this prodigiously talented youngster and his history-making antics. In April, at the age of 14, Oda became the youngest ever boys’ world No. 1.

It proved a pivotal month for the teenager as he pieced together an outstanding winning sequence that saw him claim three junior and three senior singles titles at successive tournaments in Turkey.

In doing so, Oda returned a 22-match winning streak in men’s tournaments alone, with all but one of his opponents in that time dispatched in straight sets.

“It started in Turkey, but I feel that my tennis is getting better and better, and I am honestly happy that it is showing in the results,” added Oda, who developed and was treated for osteosarcoma at the age of nine.

“Of course, I am evolving. I feel there are things which need to change and things that should not change. I feel that we should not forget the excitement and a bit of nervousness that we felt going to Turkey.

“I feel that I am at a level where I can play and win against the top players in the world, even at my current level.”

More was to come, much more in fact. Weeks later, Oda beat his first top-10 opponents in Takashi Sanada and Tom Egberink, a soon-to-be silver medallist at Tokyo 2020, on his way to winning his maiden ITF 2 title at the Kemal Sahin Open.

Further success followed at the Swiss Open Geneva, where his first ITF 1 title propelled him to a career-best No. 13 in the world rankings, before Oda assumed centre stage at the 2021 BNP Paribas World Team Cup in Sardinia. Here, he spearheaded Japan’s charge as his nation claimed its first junior title in the competition.

A sixth singles triumph of the campaign – more silverware than he had won in his entire career combined prior to 2021 – arrived at the Antalya Open in early December. He remains the planet’s top-ranked player in the Cruyff Foundation Junior Wheelchair Tennis rankings and the suggestion is that it will take an exceptionally talented individual to prevent him staying there for some considerable time.

It is fair to say that Tokito Oda is some prospect. Remember the name.

Rodrigo Pacheco

Mexico’s Rodrigo Pacheco was one of the players to really stand out at October’s Junior Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Finals in Antalya and enhanced his reputation with a number of stunning performances.

The 16-year-old started playing tennis in the Mexican city of Merida at the age of three, but for a time his true love was football and at one stage that looked as though it would be his sport of choice.

However, after watching his first tennis tournament with his father at the age seven, his sporting allegiance changed and he knew then that he wanted to pursue a career in tennis and work towards turning professional.

Fast-forward to the modern day and, having been among the players to receive an ITF International Junior Player Grant in 2021, Pacheco has enjoyed a highly productive season. He has won five ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors singles titles and three in doubles, meaning he now boasts a combined junior world ranking of No. 37.

The scale of his development this year is underlined by his 2020 year-end junior ranking of No. 212, while he has also had exposure to the professional ranks this campaign, although he lost the only match he has contested at M15 Cairo in September.

His latest title, at J1 Guadalajara in November, was the biggest of his career and reflects the progress he has made throughout the campaign with his initial triumphs coming in lower-grade events, starting at J3 Cancun in June.

“The beginning of the season wasn’t that good for me,” said Pacheco, who was a member of the 17-and-under GSDF COTECC touring team before the Covid-19 pandemic forced players to return to their nations.

“Then, I recovered by playing some lower-graded tournaments and I gained confidence in myself. I managed to win some Grade 3s, then a Grade 2 and then the biggest title of my career in Guadalajara, which improved my ranking a lot.

“I am now within the top five players born in 2005 within the ITF World Tennis Tour junior rankings.”

At the Junior Davis Cup Finals, Pacheco came to the fore in a big way. He returned a 9-2 win-loss record overall but won all six of his singles matches, while on four occasions he was required to haul Mexico level after his nation had lost the opening singles match.

“I love representing Mexico, because in addition to playing we play for our country,” added Pacheco. “Our country believes in us. It is really positive because they give their all to us, and we give our all to them. This makes you play at a better level.”

During the semi-finals, he faced France's Gabriel Debru and recovered from a set down to win one of the finest adverts there has possibly ever been for Junior Davis Cup and junior tennis in general. It was a match that would not have looked out of place far higher up the tennis pyramid.

In the end, however, France prevailed in the doubles, although Mexico still enjoyed a fantastic tournament, and their third-placed finish was their best Junior Davis Cup performance in history. Pacheco was a big part of this and he has certainly made his mark.

Taking inspiration from boyhood hero Rafael Nadal – a childhood selfie boosted his admiration for the Spaniard – this rangy left-hander certainly fits the bill as one to watch in the future.

Coach’s View: Alain Lemaitre

“What we have been working on since last year is trying to get Rodrigo stronger.

“He is going to be very tall and needs to be much stronger than he is, especially when comparing him to the big guys in the same age-group or a year older. We have started to travel with a physical trainer, which is very important for him.

“Tennis wise, he knows the court very well and is very smart on it, although he has to improve his serve. We try to do everything in order: playing Grade 5 tournaments, then Grade 4 and Grade 3 and we’re in a great place at the moment.

“The goal was to finish this year in the top 50 of the boys’ rankings and I was confident Rodrigo would achieve this. Next year, the aim is to push on and look for him to be seeded in the Junior Grand Slams.

“It is a case of working hard and trying to make him as strong as he can be. As I say, he is skinny and light – he doesn’t get tired which is a good thing – but if wants to compete with the pros he needs to be much stronger.”