The Class of 2020 series recognises and celebrates a range of players who have had successful years progressing along the ITF player pathway, and beyond. The tennis calendar may have been disrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic but that has failed to prevent players making their mark and advancing their careers, whether that be on the biggest of stages, within junior tennis, following financial support through the Grand Slam Development Fund or during their transition to the professional arena. The next category focuses upon two players who have benefitted from the ITF Junior Exempt initiative.

There are always challenges and hurdles but two players who have made their presence felt on the ITF World Tennis Tour this year following stellar junior careers are Denmark’s Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune and Robin Montgomery of the United States.

One of the game’s most difficult transitions is graduating to the professional ranks but it is fair to say that Rune and Montgomery have done so successfully, landing some sizeable blows along the way and winning a combined four titles.

Both players have been aided in their development by the ITF’s Junior Exempt project – an initiative that allows the most promising juniors to progress more quickly and gain exposure to higher-ranked competition.

Those who finished the 2019 calendar year ranked within the top 20 of the junior world rankings received five Junior Exempts into ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments in 2020. By virtue of finishing second and eighth in the boys’ and girls’ rankings respectively, Rune and Montgomery qualified.

Following a year in which he claimed a Junior Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, topped the podium at the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Finals in Chengdu and hit the No. 1 spot in the boys’ rankings before finishing in second place, Rune has proceeded to snare three professional titles.

“It was time to start a new chapter in 2020 by entering the senior level,” Rune, who is ranked No. 473 in the men’s game, told itftennis.com.

“I knew perfectly that 2020 would not be as glamourous as 2019. But, to be honest, starting as a pro was much more difficult than I expected. Everyone had told me that, with my level of tennis, I would not find senior level that difficult, but I had a lot to learn before the results started to come.

“When I look back on 2020, I have learnt so much. I feel that I have improved more this year than any other year and that is in terms of my tennis and me, both physically and mentally.

“It has been challenging, but also a huge satisfaction to see that all the things I work on actually gives results now.”

Montgomery – a Junior Billie Jean King Cup winner in 2019 as United States overcame Czech Republic – only turned 16 in September but claimed her first professional title at W25 Las Vegas six months earlier in March. She told itftennis.com: “I would say this has been a solid year for me, I can’t complain.

“During next season, I hope to get matches under my belt, post some good results, do well at tournaments and get my ranking as high as possible. I am still on the young side, so I will just try and focus on building my game and improving everything so I’m able to compete at the higher level.

“It’s going to be a long road so, most importantly, I want to make sure that during the process I enjoy myself.”

By Rune’s own admission, the 2020 campaign started slowly as the then-16-year-old looked to establish himself in his new surroundings. However, fast-forward a few months and the ambitious Dane has made significant additions to his silverware collection.  

Rune, now 17, is the only male player in 2020 to have reached an ITF World Tennis Tour final using a Junior Exempt entry. This happened at M25 Klosters in September, a tournament he won to post his first professional victory – a considerable milestone for any aspiring player.

His other two titles came at M15 Valldoreix and M15 Antalya – the former using a Junior Reserved entry – while he also reached the final at M15 Melilla the week following his triumph in Switzerland. As he looks ahead to 2021, Rune firmly believes further progress can be made.

“Coming from a small country like Denmark with no tennis tradition, for me to have the support from the ITF junior programme has been especially important, because it’s very clear that in order to have success in pros you need experience,” added Rune.

“You can talk and you can practice but the only way to learn how to win is competing against all the good guys on the tour. Every time I lose a match, I try to improve things for the next match and the next tournament.

“Good things take time, as the wise people say. I am building experience now and I find the journey exciting. I feel confident in the senior level and I have a great feeling about 2021.”

Rune’s overview of his season is echoed by his coach, Lars Christensen, who said: “Coaching Holger through 2020 has been an interesting journey, starting out with sky-high ranking ambitions and interesting wild cards to Challenger and ATP events plus Junior Exempts at M25s.

“We have had to adjust our ranking goals due to the missing months but, as the cut has been so high on all tournaments Holger has been competing at, the level that we aimed for and his development has been very positive indeed.

“Looking forward to 2021, the priorities will be further physical development along with lifting the serve and refining his offensive game. Holger is dreaming big and he is putting action to his dreams. It is a privilege to guide the direction.”

Washington DC-born Montgomery, meanwhile, was the only female player in 2020 to reach the final of an ITF World Tennis Tour event with a Junior Exempt entry. In fact, she reached two – at W25 Las Vegas in March and W25 Orlando in November.

Montgomery, who signed off her junior career in style by winning the prestigious Orange Bowl in December 2019, won the first of those to claim her first professional title at the age of just 15.

She was unable to repeat the feat at W25 Orlando, however, as she slipped to defeat against fellow American Alycia Parks despite winning the opening set of the contest.

Nevertheless, the left-hander’s exploits during 2020 have seen her climb to No. 411 in the world rankings, while another career milestone arrived in August as she made her Grand Slam debut at the US Open, losing to Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan in the first round.

 “Having the chance to experience a Grand Slam was definitely a memorable moment and to play the US Open was a huge opportunity,” added Montgomery.

“It took a few days to settle in because you’d look to the left and see Petra Kvitova, then look to the right and see Venus [Williams] walking around, so it definitely took some time to realise I was with a load of top pros and playing the same tournament as them. It was incredible and difficult to put into words.”