How to Become a Professional Tennis Player

Playing tennis for a living is a dream that only a select club of people can say they’ve achieved. It takes a lot of time, talent, and effort to grind your way to the top table in the sport of tennis. 

It’s not a team sport. This means the onus is squarely on you to put in the hard yards to make your aspirations happen.

Understanding the Layers of Professional Tennis

The pinnacle of playing professional men’s or women’s tennis is performing in the “Grand Slams”. These are the four most reputable tournaments in the ATP and WTA Tour calendars. 

It all starts with the Australian Open on the hard courts of Melbourne, followed by the clay courts of Roland-Garros at the French Open. The iconic grass courts of SW19 at Wimbledon come in the summer, before a return to the hard courts at the US Open in Flushing Meadows.

So far this year, the Australian Open has been won by Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka, with the latter clinching her first Grand Slam singles title. 

Djokovic is the clear favorite to back up his Melbourne win with a French Open title in May. He is priced as short as +150 with DraftKings Sportsbook to pip clay icon Rafael Nadal and Spanish starlet Carlos Alcaraz. 

DraftKings is listed as the most recommended operator by OddsChecker based on its bonus promotions, compliance with a multitude of licensing conditions, and the fairness of its odds. Djokovic is almost always a short-price favorite with the sportsbooks simply because of his unrivalled consistency and stamina. 

Even in the recent Australian Open, the Serbian was plagued with a hamstring injury but showed masterful powers of recovery and determination to battle on and take the trophy.

Aside from the Grand Slam events, the ATP Tour and WTA Tour both have regular tournaments throughout the season. This includes ATP 250, and ATP 500 events. There are also the ATP Masters 1000 events, which are almost as valuable as the Grand Slams. There are nine ATP Masters 1000 events, which include six hard court tournaments and three clay court tournaments.

Below the ATP Tour sits the Challenger Tour. Established in 1978, the concept of this tour is to give promising youngsters regular competitive tennis, usually against former ATP Tour opponents that may have lost form or are recovering from long-term injuries. 

Even the prize money for winning Challenger Tour events can be worth upwards of $168,000, which shows just how lucrative a pro tennis career can be.

The bottom rung of the ladder in professional tennis is the ITF World Tennis Tour, which carries prize funds of up to $25,000 for winners. This particular tour is geared towards talented juniors who are taking their first steps at the senior level.

Is Age a Factor in Training to Become a Tennis Professional?

We would be lying if we said it would be easy for someone in their late teens or even early 20s to train to become a tennis professional. Very few players start playing tennis at such a late age. 

In fact, French veteran Cedric Pioline is considered one of the latest bloomers in the history of the sport. He only picked up a racket at the age of 16. However, such stories are few and far between. Ultimately, a career in tennis requires you to start playing as early as possible in your life.

So, what’s required to make it to the big time as a professional in men’s or women’s tennis? We’ve got some pointers to get you started.

1. Join a Local Tennis Club

Start by taking things easy and joining a local tennis club. This will give you a chance to decide if the sport is for you, with no pressure or strings attached. Local tennis clubs are a great way to network and meet like-minded people who may be able to point you in the direction of great coaches and mentors.

2. Enrol in Tennis Programs Out of College

During the college holidays, enroll in as many tennis programs as you can. If you’re talented, you’re likely to be scouted by one of the coaches that run the summer programs. If you’re serious, they can help to direct you on your best route into the elite level of the sport.

3. Take Part in Local and Regional Tournaments Where Possible

Competitive action is vital. Get a taste of the physical and mental demands a tennis tournament requires. Only then can you truly decide if this sport is for you. 

If you consider yourself to have the mental fortitude and a strong diet and fitness regime, you should be able to handle the peaks and troughs of tournament life.

The general route for non-school tournaments is Zone Advancement Tournaments (ZATs). You’ll then start champing up the levels to reach national tournaments.

4. Secure a Tennis Scholarship with a Reputable University

While you’re playing tennis competitively at clubs, you may decide to apply for scholarships with strong universities boasting reputations for harnessing elite-level tennis talent. 

The strongest men’s scholarships can be found at USC in Los Angeles, the University of Virginia, and Baylor University. The strongest women’s scholarships are also found at USC in Los Angeles, as well as Vanderbilt University, and Duke University.

5. Seek a Coach or Mentor

Enlist the guidance and support of a coach or mentor, especially when you’re getting closer to entering national tournaments. A mentor or coach can watch your games and provide post-match pointers, and even offer advice mid-match. Look for coaches who have past experience with players that have made it pro.

6. Understand the Costs of Being a Tennis Pro

Starting out as a tennis professional is not cheap. There are travel and accommodation expenses to factor in for each event, all of which puts a strain on performing well in every tournament you play. 

Estimates state that base level running costs for a professional season start at $160,000. You may be able to seek financial aid from the USTA, which may at least cover your travel and related expenses to ease the burden.

7. Enter the USTA and Build Your Ranking

Once you are a member of the US Tennis Association (USTA), you can start to compete in USTA tournaments and leagues, which can help to build your ranking. The USTA remains one of the most effective routes to a professional career in tennis. 

There are tournaments for “Junior” and “Adult” players, as well as “Wheelchair” players, opening the door to disabled players looking to play tennis seriously.

The road to professional tennis stardom is by no means straightforward, but it’s one that could be incredibly fruitful if fate and fortune favor your bravery.