Going Pro by ATA
EP064 - I Was Ready to Quit Professional Tennis… Then Everything Changed | Alexandra Osborne
Alexandra Osborne joins Going Pro by ATA for one of our most honest conversations yet about what it really takes to build a career in professional tennis.Alexandra is an Australian professional tennis player from Sydney who has transitioned into becoming a doubles specialist after playing college tennis at Arizona State University.But her journey is anything but conventional.Alexandra only started playing tennis at around 11½ years old before rapidly progressing through the junior ranks, earning a scholarship to Meriden and eventually making her way to Arizona State. At college, she experienced the highs of winning a Pac-12 Championship and becoming an All-American, but also the frustration of working incredibly hard without securing a regular singles spot.After college, she pursued professional tennis and eventually transitioned towards doubles. In this conversation, Alexandra opens up about the realities of life on tour — including the financial pressure, constant uncertainty, crazy travel, injuries, and the mental challenges that come with trying to make a living as a professional tennis player.Perhaps most surprisingly, Alexandra reveals that she seriously considered finishing her tennis career in 2026.Instead, she decided to take things week by week — and has gone on to have the best year of her career.We also get into the role faith has played in changing her perspective on tennis, why she now competes with more freedom and joy, her incredible story of being called to play Venus Williams at short notice, and why she believes doubles could be crucial to the future of tennis.We discuss: Starting tennis at 11½ and catching up The reality of college tennis in America Winning a Pac-12 Championship & becoming an All-American The financial reality of professional tennis✈️ The insane travel and uncertainty of life on the doubles tour Mental health, pressure and identity in professional sport Faith, purpose and competing with freedom Why Alexandra nearly quit tennis Playing Venus Williams and Alex Eala Why doubles matters to the future of tennis How tennis can better support professional players Social media, player branding and growing doubles Why Australia has historically produced so many great doubles playersIf you're a junior player, parent, coach or simply interested in what professional tennis is really like behind the scenes, this episode is for you.Subscribe to Going Pro by ATA for more conversations with professional players, coaches and people working behind the scenes of the tennis world. 00:00 – Intro: Alexandra Osborne & Her Journey 00:50 – Starting Tennis at 11½ Years Old 03:30 – The College Tennis Journey at Arizona State 14:50 – Making the Transition to Professional Tennis 21:51 – Why Alexandra Nearly Quit Tennis 26:06 – Finding Purpose Beyond Tennis Results 38:50 – The Financial Reality of Professional Tennis 41:16 – Life on Tour & The Venus Williams Story 48:27 – The Future of Professional Doubles 52:37 – Why Doubles Matters to the Future of Tennis 57:35 – How Tennis Could Better Support Doubles Players 01:02:24 – Why Doubles Players Need to Be “Rogue” #Tennis #ProfessionalTennis #AlexandraOsborne #DoublesTennis #GoingPro
