Even if you don't follow tennis, you might have heard of some ranked tennis players.

Names like Federer, Nadal, and Serena might come to mind.

All these generational talents have once sat at the very top of the WTA rankings.

But even breaking into the actual rankings is a really big ask.

Most who turn pro don't even crack the top 1,500.

Only seven Singaporeans have ever accomplished that feat prior to Sarah Pang.

This is including Stefanie Tan, who is currently ranked 582 in the world.

In order to appear on the WTA rankings, players must earn ranking points in at least three tournaments, or a minimum of 10 singles ranking points or 10 doubles ranking points in one or more tournaments.

Pang has come real close before. She was one point away during her first and second year, but ultimately ran out of money before she could break through.

And this issue of money has been a constant source of worry for Pang, and possibly a good deal of other tennis hopefuls.

See, tennis is a real pricey sport. You have to go around the world participating in tournaments that *might* yield some prize money.

A Bloomberg article estimated that going for tournaments would cost a player, ranked 631 in this instance, about US$40,000 (S$55,256).

And that's just the travelling expenses.

Pang knows full well the financial hardship that comes with the dream.

According to a Today article, she once only had S$1.87 left in her bank account.

Pang's journey was complicated even further by the multiple jobs.

She was once working three jobs at once to supplement her tennis career.

Adding to all those financial obstacles was her own late start into the game.

While research has shown highly ranked teens tended to do well in professional tennis later on, those who weren't ranked almost always failed to make any money during their career.

Pang at 18, was still playing badminton.

And 15 years after picking up her racket she has finally done what she came so close to achieving in her first two pro seasons.

Now, she is finally ranked.

Thanked her supporters

Pang thanked her supporters in a Facebook post after breaking into the top 1,500 female players in the world.

Here it is.

In it she thanked all those who helped her, financially or otherwise.

"From a security guard uncle who slipped $10 into my hand, to the corporate lawyer who donated $100 to keep me on Tour, to a Singaporean company that seeded $10,000 into my journey, you have all told me that I also carry your own dreams and aspirations when I step out on court to fight for myself and my flag."

To do it on the week of National Day made it doubly special.

"To finally break onto the WTA board, particularly as our nation gears up to celebrate National Day this week, is especially meaningful for me, as I would not have been able to do this without your first true seeds of faith, hope, and love."

Congrats.

Image from Pang's Facebook

 

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