By Jonathan Leask  January 28, 2012

Hard work and ability are necessary but the path to the payday of playing professional tennis is pricey.

The ITF Sunsmart 18 and under Summer Championships has players from all over the world all on the quest to become a pro.
They dream of being the next Roger Federer or Maria Sharapova, and the best place to start is on the junior ITF tour.
However, it comes at a cost, a personal cost.
"We fund it all on our own," French coach Pierre Sequier said.
"There are a lot of expenses and there are two ways that players afford to do it.
"They are either backed by their parents or they pickup sponsorship. Most of the players at this tournament will be supported by their parents."
Under his tutelage is 16-year-old player Anais Nussaume, who has been on the ITF tour for just over a year and was ranked 820 at the start of the Ashburton tournament, the first of three in New Zealand.
"A trip like this would usually cost around $5000 euro ($7981.48 NZ) over the three weeks.
"So over a year I would estimate it costs around $50,000 euro ($79,814.81 NZ)," Sequier said.
Sequier is based in Bangkok where Nussaume, being half French and half Thai, plays in the Asian ITF circuit and in the Thai national series, but also returns to France for part of the year.
"Once a year we go back to France over July and August fitting in as many tournaments as we can before jumping back into the ITF tour.
"The ITF plans its tournament calendar around specific areas so there isn't massive amounts of travel from continent to continent.
"Only the players in the top 100 need to travel around to all of the major tournaments."
"Anais plays between 10 and 15 ITF tournaments, as well as the national tournaments in Thailand and France throughout the year.
"So in total it is probably around 25-30 tournaments a year."
Gear proves a minor expense, with rackets generally supplied by sponsors, but travel is the by far the biggest expense.
"It's always about the cheapest option."
"There are five levels on the junior tour, grade five up to grade one.
"Your accommodation is free in the top three grades while you remain in the main draw.
"So while you win in your singles or doubles your accommodation is paid for."
Therefore, the incentive to win, as with the senior ranks, takes precedence with the ongoing costs.
However, at the end of the day the price tag is all worth it to these juniors if they can crack the big time.
Unfortunately, for Nussaume, her tournament ended with a semi-final loss yesterday but there is little time to ponder the result as tonight they are off to Auckland for the grade three tournament starting on Monday.

Pictured: French coach Pierre Sequier warms up Anais Nussaume ahead of her semi-final yesterday.

Photo Tetsuro Mitomo