Sports
The Inspiring Story of Anna Morgina: A Russian Tennis Player’s Journey to Success and Survival
Anna Morgina, a Russian tennis player, may not be a household name in the world of tennis, but her story is one of determination, hard work, and perseverance. Despite facing financial difficulties throughout her career, she has managed to reach the top 400 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings and win numerous titles in both singles and doubles. This article will explore her inspiring journey to success and survival.
Leaving Russia for Egypt
Anna Morgina left Russia at the age of 13 with her father because they realized that playing tennis at a high level in Russia was financially impossible for them. In Egypt, she trained with top kids in the country free of charge, representing a local club. She became a top player in Egypt under 14, 16, and 18 age groups, showing a lot of potential and hard work. The Russian Tennis Federation never helped their players in any way, according to Anna. She had to leave Russia to pursue her dreams and thanks to her father and Egypt, she still plays tennis and enjoys her life on a tennis court.
Studying in the United States
Anna Morgina went to the United States at the age of 17 to study at the University of South Carolina. Her parents didn’t have any money to support her, and it was the only way for her to stay in the sport and receive a free education. Her journey in the US was rough, with her head coach being 75 years old, and the training not good enough. However, Anna did a lot of extra work on her own because she knew from her first semester that she would be a pro after four years, no matter what. After graduation in 2012, she returned to Egypt to train and started playing “futures” events, the lowest category tournaments of the WTA tour.
Achieving Success in Doubles
Anna Morgina’s doubles performance was way better than her singles performance in the beginning. She partnered up with her best friend, Yana Sizikova, also from Russia, who is currently ranked in the top 50 in the WTA. They won numerous tournaments together in Sharm el Sheikh, where their journey began. She also won doubles titles with other partners such as Daria Mishina, Ekaterina Makarova, Katarina Siniakova, Victoria Kan, Laura Pigossi, Vera Lapko, Nina Stojanovic, Harriet Dart, Valeria Solovyeva, Melanie Klaffner, Galina Fokina, and many more.
The Importance of a Supportive Team in Anna Morgina’s Tennis Career
Traveling with a supportive team can make all the difference for a tennis player, and Anna Morgina experienced that firsthand when she traveled with her coach Alexey Kaperskiy and doubles partner Daria Mishina. They won two pro titles and made it to a final together, which Anna describes as the best and happiest year of her career. This team effort and support were crucial in helping Anna achieve success on the court.
Challenges of Playing Higher Tournaments
Anna Morgina had to start playing higher tournaments to improve her ranking when she got into the top 400 in the WTA rankings. This is when she faced the most significant financial challenges. Egypt was cheap to live in, but the tournaments she played in were more expensive. She had to pay for flights, hotels, food, and training, which was a struggle for her. However, she persevered and continued to play in tournaments to reach her dream of becoming a professional tennis player.
Life in Debt
Despite winning numerous titles and making it into the top 400 in the WTA rankings, Anna Morgina’s life is in debt because of tennis. She has earned only $150k in prize money throughout her career, which is not enough to cover her expenses. However, she continues to play tennis because of her love for the sport and her passion for succeeding. She hopes to earn more prize money in the future to pay off her debt.
Conclusion
Anna Morgina’s story is one of perseverance, hard work, and determination. Despite facing financial challenges and debt, she continues to play tennis because of her love for the sport and her passion for succeeding. Her journey from leaving Russia to studying in the US and achieving success in doubles is inspiring and showcases the resilience required to pursue a career in professional tennis. Through it all, Anna has shown that with the right mindset and support, anything is possible.
Kenneth is a proud native of sydney, born and raised there. However, he pursued his education abroad and studied in Australia. Kenneth has worked as a journalist for almost a decade, making valuable contributions to prominent publications such as Yahoo News and The Verge. Currently, he serves as a journalist for The Hear Up, where he focuses on covering climate and science news. You can reach Kenneth at [email protected].
