👦 Rodrigo Santiago Duarte | Tennis Papers interview, August 2025
“My dream in tennis is to become a professional player and be number 1 in the world.”
Meet Rodrigo Santiago Duarte, a highly promising and talented Portuguese tennis player who has been making a name for himself in the junior tennis circuit. This young athlete currently resides in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, where he dedicates countless hours to training and improving his game. Rodrigo actively participates in a wide range of tennis tournaments, consistently demonstrating his impressive skills, determination, and passion for the sport. His commitment to tennis and his competitive spirit make him a rising star to watch in the future.
📘 Rodrigo Santiago Duarte | Biography, August 2025
| Name | Rodrigo Santiago Duarte |
| Date of birth | August 27, 2008 |
| Nationality | Portuguese 🇵🇹 |
| Residence | Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal |
| @rodrigosantiago2008 | |
| Age started tennis | 4 |
| Tennis Club | Complexo de Ténis de Espinho |
| Coach | Miguel Lapido |
| Junior category | U18 |
| National ranking | – |
| International ranking | #10 (U18 Europe 2024) #1682 (U18 ITF world ranking 2025) |
| Racquet brand | Wilson |
| Sponsors | Wilson |
🏠 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
A center of the port wine trade, Vila Nova de Gaia has many cellars with tours and tastings. It’s also famous for sandy beaches like Praia da Madalena and the riverside road Cais de Gaia, featuring cafes and views of the Douro. In the fishing village of Afurada, small restaurants offer grilled fish and seafood amid tiled houses and narrow streets.
🎙️Rodrigo Santiago Duarte | Interview, August 2025
Hello, introduce yourself please.
Hi! My name is Rodrigo Santiago Duarte, I am 17 years old and my date of birth is August 27, 2008.
I am Portuguese and I live in Vila Nova de Gaia near Porto in Portugal.At what age did you start playing tennis?
I started playing tennis when I was 4 or 5 years old.Are there other tennis players in your family?
I dont have any tennis players in my family.In which club do you train tennis?
My club is the Complexo de Ténis de Espinho.Who is your tennis coach?
My coach is Miguel Lapido.How many hours a week do you train tennis and do physical training?
I train tennis 4 hours per day and 2 hours per day in physical.What is your junior tennis category and your national tennis ranking?
I compete in Under-18 category.
I have been injured last year so I don’t have a national ranking for now but I have an ITF ranking and I am ranked 1682.
Before my injured last year I was number 10 in Tennis Europe and number 1 in race to monte Carlo.What are your best tennis performances?
My best tournaments were:
- Winner of a Category 2 in Sansenxo, Spain
- Quarter-finalist in Super Category in Milan, Italy
- Finalist in ITF J30 in Porto, Portugal
Do you have any sponsors?
My sponsor is Wilson.What tennis racket do you play with?
My racket is a Wilson Shift.In which countries have you already participated in tennis tournaments?
I ever played tennis tournaments in Belgium, Italy, Spain, France.What is your tennis dream?
My dream in tennis is to become a professional player and be number one in the world.Who are your favorite tennis players?
My favourite tennis players are: Alcaraz, Nadal, Federer.What do you like to do outside of tennis?
When I dont play tennis I like to see TV series, going out with friends and play some games with Playsation.Thanks a lot Rodrigo!
Tennis Papers wishes you the best in your tennis life 💜🩷
