«Je joue à perte chaque semaine»: l’envers du décor du tennis professionnel

Away from the glamor of the world's biggest tennis tournaments, hundreds of professional tennis players work hard to make ends meet. In fact, for many of them, making ends meet isn't even an option: “I'm playing at a loss every week,” says the Briton, who competed in Quebec this week.

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“In the first years we are just trying to improve our rating,” explains Esther Adeshina. “But even if I win the W15 title, for example, I have no chance of breaking even.”

“Everything is very expensive,” she continues. “Flights, accommodation…”

In the W15 tournament run by the ITF (not the WTA), a first-round singles loss was worth less than $200 last year.

In a W35 tournament like the one organized by Aliassime Academy, which runs at Club Avantage Multi-Sports de Québec until Sunday, that amount is less than $300. The winner will receive approximately $5,000.




Photo by Aliassim Academy

And even if the ITF announced a 26% increase in scholarships last year, such is life in the WTA lobby, where we see as many youngsters cutting their teeth as professionals as players trying to rebuild their rankings, or “old” players continuing to cling to their dreams.

Airbnb, not a hotel

Luckily, Adeshina, 24, can count on her parents to cover most of her expenses while she waits until her career may one day become profitable.

Adeshina, who left the American university a little over a year ago, hopes that over time she will be able to repay them for everything.

But with no sponsor other than equipment, she and her doubles teammate Victoria Allen decide to cut back on their expenses. This week, two friends rented an Airbnb together in Quebec rather than staying in a hotel.

Adeshina and Allen do this when they register for the same tournament to cut costs and be able to cook.




Photo courtesy of ESTHER ADESHINA

They did it deliberately

Both Britons are not complaining. They knew what they were getting into when they left the NCAA. An environment where, moreover, everything is organized for athletes.

It is now up to professionals to manage their own travel and reserve practice fields.

Unlike the world's best players, they do not travel with a sports therapist to treat their injuries after matches.

In fact, the two friends don't even travel with the coach. “Mine is with me when I play tournaments in Britain,” says Adeshina.

“No fun“, despite the difficulties

But both Adeshina and Allen appear to be patient. The first one is 628.e this week in singles and has grossed about $23,000 this year. Second – 617e and received a similar amount in scholarships in 2025.

“My goal was to finish the year in the top 500 and I'm not very far from that [à ce niveau, quelques points font la différence entre une 600e et une 500e place]“,” Adeshina rejoices.

A goal shared by her friend, who also smiles at the thought that she is very close to the goal. “It's a good first year,” she stresses, although life isn't always easy unless you're among the tennis elite.




Photo by Aliassim Academy

“It's a lonely, hard life, a lot of travel. fun. It’s a lot, but it’s also a lot of fun,” Allen says.

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