Futures and Challengers are the tennis minor leagues but for some it’s their main events

Most players start off with a racket in their hands during their pre-school years when other children’s days were spent in a playground sandbox or on sliding boards and swings. It is common knowledge that when the player had decided he or she wants tennis as their profession, they must enter into ITF events, where Futures and Challenger tournaments are king. They know this is the beginning level to reach pro status but for some the time it takes to elevate one’s rankings and hit the main course hardly ever happen. Players understand they have to face the ‘no frills’ tournaments and roughen it out, but how rough–is rough? Well as my article explains that the players have to pay for their transportation, food, hotel, equipment and tennis outfits. Many events are in remote areas, taking hours to get to the venue without the help of convenient shuttle buses like the big leagues. It all depends on the monies they’ve accumulated if they’ve won matches or tournaments at all the ‘out of pocket’ money they’ll have to spend on each tournament. This circle of events goes round and round with many players not even having a coach or very few if any friends to come along for …

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