Joao Sousa

While better known for their soccer skills, the Portuguese are one of the most impressive sporting nations on the planet. Always punching above their weight, they produce stars in just about every sport – and, in Joao Sousa, tennis is no exception. Sousa, at age 28, has a huge amount of growing left in him as he enters his peak performance time. Known for a right-handed playstyle and having a two-handed backhand, the Guimares-born resident has been in the pro game for nine years, having started in 2008.

With the watchful eye of coach Frederico Marques keeping him on his toes, the impressive Sousa has an interesting career path ahead of him. Having picked up a racquet at the age of 7 when playing with his father, Sousa found a natural love of the sport and, before long, was enjoying a unique experience far beyond anything he had engaged in beforehand.

Armando, his father, was a judge at the local tennis club, meaning the younger Sousa had all the help he needed to learn the rules and to get to grips with the quality and consistency needed to make it. Growing up, his major inspirations were the likes of Pete Sampras, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Roger Federer.

At the tender age of 15, Sousa made his way to Barcelona to train there instead. With opportunities limited back home, he made his way to the sporting capital of Europe to take his levels even higher than ever before. Now recognized as a fine exponent of the forehand, Sousa has improved and changed as a player consistently as the years have gone by.

Playing at his best on clay courts, too, he’s become increasingly competitive as he seeks to win major honours. He’s also been the highest-ranked Portuguese tennis player in the Open Era, having finished five straight seasons in the Top 100. His career high number is #28 on the rankings. His first title arrived in 2013, when he won the Kuala Lumpur title and in the process became the first ever Portuguese ATP Champion!

He’s also win the 2015 Valencia title, with 5 Challenger and 7 Futures titles alongside these successes. While he’s yet to win a Grand Slam, the impressive Sousa has plenty of years left to find another level of consistency to his game. With various finals and over 100 Tour wins at ATP level, he’s certainly got the talent to go even further.