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 final five 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 18 players. 

Next up, it’s a 16-year-old who has not only dazzled in junior competition this year, but is already making moves in the women’s game.

Few might have heard of Alina Korneeva 12 months ago.

But her stunning season in both junior and women’s competition on the ITF World Tennis Tour has had the klaxons firing around her as an emerging star in the women’s game.

Though just 16-years-old, Korneeva opted to play just five junior tournaments in 2023 – prioritising the biggest events and focusing on the professional tour – and raising her WTA ranking instead.

Given she clearly has the level to not only compete but to win some of the biggest ITF women’s events on the calendar, it was a shrewd move.

Korneeva won junior titles at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, becoming the first girl since Belinda Bencic in 2013 to win back-to-back Junior Grand Slam singles titles, and ended her junior career in style by winning the 2023 ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors crown and securing the year-end girls’ No. 1 ranking.

Those events might have been the most impactful in putting her on the map on the global stage, but it was her performances on the ITF World Tennis Tour that have put her on the cusp of the WTA Top 150 - leaving her well poised to graduate to the higher levels of the game next year.

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Korneeva, whose father Alesksandr won a bronze medal in volleyball at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has accelerated her development as both athlete and player this season, absorbing information with every new experience.

“After the Australian Open, my game changed,” she admitted. “I tried to play a bit cleverer.”

That she did, outwitting far more established pros throughout the nine ITF World Tennis Tour events she contested in 2023.

In March, she qualified for the biggest women’s tournament of her career – an ITF W60 event in Pretoria – and promptly won it, defeating former world No. 25 Timea Babos in straight sets in the final.

Five tournaments later, Korneeva raised the bar again, winning seven matches in a row to come through qualifying and win the W100 Figuera Da Foz title.

In the title match she defeated established top 200 player Carole Monnet in the most emphatic fashion possible, triumphing 6-0 6-0.

“If I’m mentally ready to fight, nothing stops me. [I] just never give up. Work every point, fight every point"

“I was really happy when I won it,” she said after becoming the first 16-year-old to win an ITF W100 title. “My level was higher than it was before. I was happy that my level and my ranking was high[er]. That was the most important thing.”

Korneeva was denied a third ITF women's title by the narrowest of margins, falling 4-6 6-2 7-6(7) to Celine Naef in the W80 Le Neubourg final, and would go on to make an impressive WTA debut as a qualifier in Hong Kong, ultimately falling to fellow rising teen Linda Fruhvritova in the second round.

She ends the year with a 54-10 win-loss record (including 30-7 on the ITF World Tennis Tour, 24-3 on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors, and 3-1 in WTA competition).

What, then, is the key behind these results at such a young age?

“If I’m mentally ready to fight, nothing stops me,” said Korneeva, confidently. “[I] just never give up. Work every point, fight every point.”

More power and finesse will no doubt come too as she develops athletically in the years ahead, but Korneeva keeps her cards close to her chest when asked what areas of her game she is targeting for immediate improvement.

“[There’s] a lot – but I don’t want to say it. It’s a secret!,” she said with a laugh. “I don’t want my opponents to know…

“Let’s say less mistakes. That’s all I can say…”

Korneeva joins Canada's Marina Stakusic, and Portugal's Henrique Rocha in the ITF Class of 2023. Stay tuned for the remaining two players to be announced each day this week.