Becoming a Professional Tennis Player: Making My Dream a Reality
Welcome to the demanding world of professional tennis. This presentation offers a roadmap, my roadmap for the year 2025 and in the longer term, to become ……. a professional tennis player !!
Discover MY project and become a major player in it.
table of contents
Who am I ?
My name is Heata-Nui ISTA-TOOFA, I was born on June 12, 2011 in New Caledonia, and my passion for tennis exploded just two years ago.
It all started at school in 2022, with a simple weekly lesson for fun.
April 10, 2023 marked a turning point: my first tournament. Unranked at the time, I discovered the adrenalin of competition and knew that this was my path. With the support of my parents, I decided to invest myself fully in tennis by taking part in all the tournaments in New Caledonia. To devote myself to my intensive training, I opted for home instruction, with a clear objective in mind: professionalism.
My career path: an amazing progression
September 2023:
I structured my project with a first major objective: to win the New Caledonian Territorial Championship in April 2024 to qualify for the French Championship. To achieve this, I trained up to 15 hours a week, not counting matches and independent physical preparation sessions.
April 2023 to April 2024:
An intense year with over 130 matches, including an enriching tour of Vanuatu (December 10-17, 2023) coached by Richard Pugibet. My results: 3rd in U12, 4th in U14 and 1st in doubles.
January-February 2024:
No break! I continued training during the school vacations, determined to progress and achieve my goals. I managed to catch up with and overtake players my age who had started playing tennis much earlier. In one year of competition, I climbed 7 rungs, from unclassified to 30/1. By May 2024, I was proudly ranked 30.
April 21, 2024:
A moment of immense pride: I won the 4th series Adult Territorial Championship! I’ve reached my first goal, set for September 2023.
May to December 2024:
I continued to train and take part in tournaments in New Caledonia, accumulating experience and victories.
December 2024:
A significant milestone: I’m ranked 15/5, the only player my age in the territory to reach this level.
December 5 to 16, 2024:
I proudly represented my club, the Tennis Club de Païta and New Caledonia, at the VAS Regional tournament in Vanuatu. I was the only girl among the club’s 8 young players, and I achieved excellent results:
- 2nd in U14
- 3rd in U16/18
- 2nd in U16/18 doubles
January 2025:
Training continues, even during the vacations here. My personalized program, from Monday to Friday morning, includes 1h30 of physical preparation (footwork, explosiveness, speed…) and 1h30 of tennis.
February 2025:
I take part in the Païta Open (my club), which I win in ladies’ singles and ladies’ doubles and am a finalist in mixed doubles. I also start preparing for my tour of Fiji in April and May 2025.
March 2025:
marks an important milestone: preparation for my tour of Fiji. I’d like to express my gratitude to my two exceptional coaches: Richard PUGIBET, who has been with me from the start and whose support is invaluable (thank you, Richard!), and Gil FESSARD from the Païta Tennis Club, whose expertise, in collaboration with Richard, is helping me to reach a new level. Thank you so much for your commitment and your passion for tennis.
April 2025:
departure for my first international tour, 50 days in Fiji Here’s my tournament schedule:
- First tournament: POJC (Pacific Oceania Junior Championship) in the U14 category, from April 2 to 11, 2025.
- Second tournament: ITF Junior J30 (13-18 age group) in Lautoka, Fiji, April 15-20, 2025.
- Third tournament: ITF Junior J30 (13-18 age group) in Lautoka, Fiji, April 22-27, 2025.
- Fourth tournament: OPEN DE FIDJI, May 7-11, 2025, U14 and U16 categories.
Intensive Training: The Key to my Progression
My daily routine is structured around rigorous training, where I balance technique, tactics, physical fitness and mental preparation.
I pay close attention to my nutrition and hydration, which are essential for top performance.
Organization is paramount: I juggle my studies at home and my intensive training sessions with determination.
My Club : Le Tennis Club de Païta
Païta Tennis Club is my base camp, the place where I work hard every day with my coach.
The setting is ideal for training in the best conditions.
A big thank you to my Club for supporting me.
My 2025 Objectives: Going international
April 2025: Participation in the POJC and two ITF Juniors tournaments in Fiji (J30). I finished 7th out of 19 girls, and was runner-up in doubles.
May 2025: Fiji Open.
June 2025: Two ITF Juniors tournaments in New Caledonia (J30).
July 2025: Tour of Australia or 2 ITF J60 tournaments in Fiji.
August 2025: Participation in 2 International Youth tournaments in New Caledonia.
September 2025: Tour of Australia.
October 2025: Participation in two ITF Juniors tournaments in Thailand (J60).
November 2025: Tour of Australia.
December 2025: Tournament in Vanuatu.
Support My Dream and My Objectives : Financing and Sponsoring
Achieving my goals for the 2025 tennis season involves significant costs. Between the travel required to take part in tournaments (including plane tickets), accommodation costs on site, competition entry fees, the acquisition of high-performance equipment and regular training sessions, the budget is substantial.
That’s why I’m actively looking for sponsors and partners who could provide me with financial or material support. Your help would be invaluable in enabling me to concentrate fully on my progress and performance.
I’m open to collaborating with companies that share my values and wish to be associated with my project.
Patrons: Your financial support can offer you a tax deduction, while contributing to the realization of my dream.
You can contact us directly on the WhatsApp chat on this page.
Coming soon: the creation of an online kitty
Conclusion: Together towards Success
My passion for tennis, hard work and discipline are the pillars of my daily life. I’m determined to turn my dream into reality, and I hope you’ll be part of the adventure!
Follow My Performance: Stay Connected!
I regularly share my experiences, results and impressions on my FaceBook page:
https://www.facebook.com/HEATANUIISTATOOFA/
Instagram :
https://www.instagram.com/heatanui._/
Feel free to visit it to follow my journey closely!
#wearetennis #togetherfortennis
