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. 

First up, it’s a talented young Portuguese player who has been racking up victories on the ITF World Tennis Tour...

You may not be all too familiar with the name – or game – of Henrique Rocha, but if his performances on the ITF World Tennis Tour in 2023 are anything to go by, the Portuguese teenager will be on your radar soon enough.  

Rocha is 19 years old, has been prolific in ITF men’s competition this year and is fast-developing into a player capable of flourishing at the highest level of the sport. 

But don’t just take it from me. Take it from a man who has been there, done it, and is now among those responsible for nurturing Rocha’s journey into professional tennis. 

“He’s one of the best young players in Portugal,” said Rui Machado, a seasoned competitor and former world No. 59 who now heads up the Portuguese Tennis Federation’s High Performance Team.  

“He’s a very competitive player. An all-round player, very complete. He likes to play offensive tennis. He has a great forehand and he’s physically strong. He’s very fast during the rallies.  

“He is, for sure, the future for Portuguese tennis.” 

Rocha will have flown firmly under the radar for many tennis aficionados. Peaking at No. 62 in the boys’ rankings, he had a good, if not dazzling, junior career, winning 55 of his 91 matches on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors.  

His fledgling career has been more about taking opportunities to learn and develop his game than a headfirst leap onto the professional scene. Rocha's involvement in the ITF Touring Team to Mexico and Florida in 2021 – an ITF/Grand Slam-funded initiative that allows promising young players to learn from quality coaches and compete against the best players in the world in their age group – is a case in point. 

His transition to the men’s game this year, though, has been worthy of attention.  

Rocha has won over 60 matches and collected his first six titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour during 2023 - a tally bettered by only two other men in veteran performers Dragos Nicolae Madaras (10 titles) and Goncalo Oliveira (9). 

"[He's] an all-round player, very complete. He has a great forehand and he’s physically strong. He’s very fast during the rallies. He is, for sure, the future for Portuguese tennis"

The ITF stage has afforded him the freedom to hone his game while making winning a habit, rather than a fleeting rush of fortune. 

“The ITF World Tennis Tour has helped me [this year] because I’ve played so many matches,” Rocha reflected. “Every tournament that I play I can always reach the quarter-finals, semi-finals. I’ve been having a lot of matches in my legs. That’s helped me a lot to have more rhythm.  

“Because of that I’ve been playing better and better during the year. With the more matches I play, the better I feel.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ITF Tennis (@itftennis)

 

Contributing to Rocha’s tennis development is a hugely experienced coaching team that features three former pros, with Machado supported by former world No. 99 Pedro Sousa and ex-WTA pro Neuza Silva. 

“They helped me a lot in this small transition between the Juniors, the [ITF World Tennis Tour], and now hopefully the [ATP] Challengers,” Rocha said. “It’s important for me to get some observations, some tips from them. It’s a really good group that we have. They all work for my best, it’s very nice to have them all.” 

Rocha’s progress – a ranking leap of almost 600 spots since the turn of the year to a career-high No. 247 this week – is clear enough on paper, but what technical enhancements has he made to bring about such a successful rise? 

“The biggest improvements in my game this year have been my forehand,” he said. “I think I have a great forehand. It’s my biggest weapon.  

“But also my serve, I’ve been trying to work a lot on it and it has been improving a lot. My backhand also improved a lot this year with so many matches. It has been really solid. I think my biggest weapon is my legs. I’m very fast.” 

“The ITF World Tennis Tour has helped me [this year] because I’ve played so many matches... I’ve been having a lot of matches in my legs. That’s helped me a lot to have more rhythm"

Rocha is a long-time admirer of Roger Federer but on the half-glance has a style more akin to the Swiss’ long-time rival Rafael Nadal, a lazy comparison, granted, but one that stretches beyond the flowing dark hair and toned physique. 

He is, as he declares, extremely fast around the court, flexible in his movement and dominant on his clean and punchy forehand flank, which he routinely pairs with an effort-inducing ‘eeeeehhhhhhh’. 

Drawing comparisons to one of the best of all time is ridiculous, quite frankly, but here’s one more vague similarity with the Spaniard – he is a very good volleyer. 

Rocha has developed some fine hand skills at the net, having won a hatful of doubles matches this season. 

He has appeared in 10 doubles finals in total in 2023 (including two runner-up finishes on the ATP Challenger Tour alongside compatriot Jaime Faria), winning four titles at ITF M25 level, including his latest at M25 Vale do Lobo with older brother Francisco, 24, who he credits for igniting his interest in tennis. 

Rocha is now closing in on the Top 200 in the team format, but his singles potential is what excites the most. 

And with Portugal long-seeking a player to follow in the footsteps of former Top 30-star Joao Sousa, Henrique Rocha, by all accounts, is shaping up to be the prime candidate. 

Stay tuned for the remaining four players to be announced as part of the ITF World Tennis Tour Class of 2023 each day this week.