The Audio Long Read ‘I’m good, I promise’: the loneliness of the low-ranking tennis player
Jul 26, 2024
Former Ireland's No 1 tennis player, Conor Niland, shares the brutal reality of life as a low-ranking tennis player, including isolation, financial hardships, and competitive pressures. He explores the challenges faced on the lower tiers of professional tennis, encounters with big names like Andre Agassi, and the struggle to find warm-up partners. Niland provides insights into the loneliness and competitiveness of striving for success in the sport.
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Relentless Early Career Grind
- Conor Niland played 24 matches in five weeks, winning two trophies but feeling exhausted.
- Despite fatigue, he had to push through to the next event, as tennis was his full-time job.
Tennis Tour Tiers Explained
- Men's pro tennis ranks into ATP Tour (top 100), Challenger Tour (100–300), and Futures Tour (2000+ players).
- Futures Tour is a purgatory where players strive to escape to higher tiers.
Agassi's Lonely Stardom
- Seeing Andre Agassi up close revealed his loneliness despite fame and entourages.
- Conor felt the isolation of players at all levels, but recognized the unique solitude of top stars.