Let's face it, you need a heap of cash to make it as a professional tennis player. The cost of equipment, coaching and travel is astronomical and it can be difficult to fulfill potential depending on your circumstances. After playing in her first Grand Slam main draw at the Australian Open, Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova laid bare the obstacles she has faced on the way to the top. Now a top-100 player, it is not so long ago that Oliynykova was eating only sandwiches at tournaments to save money. The A$150,000 (£75,757) she earned for her first-round appearance at the Australian Open will help Oliynykova both on and off the court.

Source: BBC January 24, 2026 14:04 UTC