Massive upset! The 20-year-old Portuguese tennis star, Henrique Rocha, defeated world number 9, Casper Ruud, in the Davis Cup. What a monumental moment for the player and for his nation! Who would have thought he’d secure a Top 10 win before the in-form Nuno Borges? This is also Portugal’s first Top 10 win in the Davis Cup. The tie between Portugal and Norway is now level at 1-1. Even the ball girl in this match was surprised by the outcome. Her epic reaction after Rocha’s final point has gone viral.

She was visibly stunned, putting her hands on her head and kneeling to the ground in disbelief as Ruud’s ball landed wide. Renowned Portuguese tennis journalist, José Morgado, couldn’t contain his emotions after witnessing this emphatic triumph from one of Portuguese tennis’ brightest prospects. He tweeted a video of the ball girl’s reaction, with the caption, “Reaction of the ball girl tells the story.”

Henrique Rocha beat Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-4 in this Davis Cup match. Interestingly, this is just his second Top 100 win of his career. Although Rocha played exceptionally well, Ruud’s below-par performance will be a major concern for the Norwegian camp. So far, this year has been excellent for Rocha. He won a title at the Murcia Open and reached the finals of the Slovak Open. Apart from that, the 20-year-old has reached three semifinals and two quarterfinals in his previous tournaments this season. He certainly looks ready to launch himself onto the bigger stages of the tennis world, right?

Previously during an interview with ATPTour.com, Rocha revealed, “Four years ago I would say I was still like a baby compared to now. Right now I feel way more mature, maybe more mature than others. I would say that’s why I’m improving a bit faster.” He currently works with Pedro Sousa, and though they are in their first full season traveling together, they have had a close relationship for several years. What does Sousa think of this talented youngster?

Pedro Sousa perhaps wouldn’t be too surprised with Henrique Rocha’s incredible performance at the Davis Cup

While recalling his first interactions with Henrique Rocha, Sousa said, “His power is not normal. His forehand, his explosion were very good and impressive for a kid who was 15. The way he already moved and hit the forehand, it’s unbelievable.” The 36-year-old former tennis player further went on to add, “At least in Portugal, we are not used to seeing that a lot of times. We don’t have that many players, but even for the rest of the world, it’s not that common the power he can put in his shot, especially in his forehand.“

Has this free-hitting firepower caused havoc in Casper Ruud’s match? Only Ruud can answer that. We’ll certainly keep an eye on his thoughts about this talented opponent. Meanwhile, Rocha’s goal is now to make his maiden trip to the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals, presented by PIF. He could become the first Portuguese player to qualify for the 20-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals, which will be held in Jeddah from December 18-22.

Speaking on this mission, Henrique Rocha admitted, “For me, it’s an amazing opportunity. It was my goal since the beginning of the season.” He has assured his fans that he’ll do everything it takes to reach there. Share your thoughts on Rocha’s performance against Casper Ruud at the Davis Cup.