Former Inverness professional tennis player who qualified for Australian and French Open steps away from game
AWAY from the glitz and glamour of the best players in the world, trying to make it as a professional athlete can be extremely difficult.
Hours of preparation – both fitness work and sport-specific skills – have to be matched by a big financial commitment, and a willingness to travel all over to compete in far from ideal facilities.
Above all, love and passion for the sport is required to break clear of those shackles and make it big, but it is no surprise that thousands of people do not get there.
Even some who have a degree of success – such as tennis player Isabelle Wallace – are often forced to turn away for their own good.
Wallace, who was born and raised in Inverness but chose to represent Australia, claimed eight ITF Women’s Circuit titles in 2016 and 2017.
She competed in the Australian Open main draw in the doubles in 2018 and 2019, but trumped even that with an entry into the French Open singles main draw in 2018 on her favoured clay surface.
But in June last year, Wallace came to a crossroads, and came to the difficult decision to step away from the sport.
Read more in today's Inverness Courier by clicking here.