Hudu Gurusingha
Cancelled
- Jul 11, 2014
- 3,146
- 3,044
- AFL Club
- West Coast
- Other Teams
- Penrith Panthers, Houston Astros
You're a decent tennis player. In fact a very good tennis player. There are only 200 better players than you in the entire world.
You travel the world playing challenger and future level tournaments trying to 'break through' into the very highest echelons of the sport where the real prize money and wealth is distributed to a very special few.
You play in front of no one. No spectators, no tv cameras, no racket and clothing sponsers. Not even a coach because once you pay for your accommodation, food and travel you cant afford it. Half of the $1000 you won for winning the previous future level tournament has been wilted away after tax, and you've spent the rest on the entrance fee to the next tournament, a decent meal and splashed out on some new new shoes that you desperately need. You don't have the luxury of having your parents funding your tennis journey. They've given all they can for you just to be here.
You share your dodgy hotel room with a friend you've made on the tour to cut back on expenses. You're due to play each other in the next round. A knock on the door and you're both offered a considerable sum of money (compared to what you normally receive anyway) to fix the first set of your next match. Enough money to pay for some physio for your dodgy shoulder, a couple of new rackets and to get you to the next tournament. The final two sets its on.
Would you take the money?
You travel the world playing challenger and future level tournaments trying to 'break through' into the very highest echelons of the sport where the real prize money and wealth is distributed to a very special few.
You play in front of no one. No spectators, no tv cameras, no racket and clothing sponsers. Not even a coach because once you pay for your accommodation, food and travel you cant afford it. Half of the $1000 you won for winning the previous future level tournament has been wilted away after tax, and you've spent the rest on the entrance fee to the next tournament, a decent meal and splashed out on some new new shoes that you desperately need. You don't have the luxury of having your parents funding your tennis journey. They've given all they can for you just to be here.
You share your dodgy hotel room with a friend you've made on the tour to cut back on expenses. You're due to play each other in the next round. A knock on the door and you're both offered a considerable sum of money (compared to what you normally receive anyway) to fix the first set of your next match. Enough money to pay for some physio for your dodgy shoulder, a couple of new rackets and to get you to the next tournament. The final two sets its on.
Would you take the money?
