On Tuesday, we had a good first round match up against an unseeded American and Israeli. Being close to the water, it was constantly windy at the courts. During our first set, we could not figure out how to handle the pace of our opponents ball with such strong winds. We quickly lost that set 6-1 and needed to mentally reset before the 2nd set. We began getting a groove and figuring out what we needed to change for these conditions, however, our opponents ultimately handled the conditions better than us and we fell short 4-6. This is the first match in a while that we did not feel like we played our best tennis. It is hard coming out of a match knowing that you normally can play at a higher level, however, it’s impossible to play our best every single match and that is something we are learning.

This was our first trip where we did not win a match which was definitely a hard feeling. It is hard not to think that this tournament was a waste of money when you didn’t win a match. However, we have to tell ourselves that every single tournament is a learning experience and a stepping stone in our journey no matter what the outcome is. We have to stay positive throughout our journey or we are not going to make it where we want to be. Since we were able to drive, the cost of this trip was fairly low and we were also able to pick up 1 WTA point.

To make this trip hurt even more, this tournament was our last tournament for the year. Madison has had a blood flow issue in her legs that she has been fighting for 2.5 years. It finally reached a point where it is limiting her performance and we need her to be able to perform at her best if we want to be the best. Therefore, she has made the extremely difficult decision to get surgery on November 5th to attempt to fix her problem. The goal is that she will be ready to go by the new year and we can come back stronger than ever. We are beyond happy with the progress that we made this year and are happy to say that we finished the year ranked 1050 in the world. Looking back on our journey and the troubles we have gone through, we are so proud of ourselves for getting to this point. We cannot wait to come back stronger next year!

Total Points Earned: 1

Price Breakdown:

• Lodging: $547

• Groceries: $230

• Gas: $96

• Total Cost: $873

• Total Earnings: $132

The tournament in Bakersfield was the first women’s tournament they have ever hosted, making it a huge deal for the community. On Monday night, we participated in a Pro-Am event. We were paid and provided dinner and drinks in exchange for playing tennis with the local community. This was truly an amazing experience. We were treated as celebrities, signing autographs and taking photos all night long. We were excited to have a large crowd for our match the following day.

On Tuesday, we faced a tough first round matchup. We were playing the former 140 in the world American and her Indian partner ranked 200 in the world. Our match did not start until 9pm, since the club wanted us to have a large crowd. We played on stadium court and had at least 100 people watching while they drank and ate. We had an amazing match playing some of the best tennis we have ever played. Unfortunately it wasn’t quite good enough to win. We fell short 4-6, 4-6. Despite loosing, we were beyond happy with how we played and were grateful for the amazing experience.

After this match, we had numerous people coming up to compliment us explaining how this was one of the best matches they have ever seen. We were signing autographs and taking photos despite loosing. This experience makes everything that we’re doing worth it. It truly felt like we made it. This feeling was something that little Madi and Anastasia always dreamed of. We can’t wait to have more moments like this!

Total Points Earned: 1

Price Breakdown (Total for Redding, CA and Bakersfield, CA):

• Flight: 2 x $150

• Bags: 4 x $35

• Car: $150

• Gas: $132

• Groceries: $150

• Tournament Entry: 4 x $20

• Total Cost: $952

• Total Earnings: $328

To our delight, the director of the 35K in Redding, California, offered us a wildcard into the main draw of doubles! He believed we were ideal candidates and was excited to see us compete.

With about a week and a half to plan, we crafted a budget-friendly itinerary: flying to San Francisco (with one stop) and then driving 3.5 hours to Redding. Although it was a bit of a journey, it saved us significant costs, which is vital for us right now.

We were also incredibly fortunate to learn that this tournament provides free housing for players.This generous support greatly alleviates our financial burden and makes this trip not only possible but also a fantastic opportunity to grow and gain new experience.

Our hosts were incredible—so generous in offering us their guesthouse by the pool and cooking us amazing dinners every night. We truly felt spoiled! They made us feel like part of their family, which made the tournament experience far more enjoyable and much less stressful.

Before the tournament began, we had some free time, which we took full advantage of by exploring the area. Redding is surrounded by stunning nature, so we didn’t take that for granted.We had the chance to visit Lassen National Park, the Redwoods, and several other unique spots.

Finally, it was game time. We drew the third seed, a team ranked 300th in the world, with one of the players having just competed at the US Open a few months earlier. We knew we were facing the toughest team we had ever encountered on paper, but we were excited for the challenge and the new experience ahead. Our mindset was simple—have fun and enjoy the game. We definitely succeeded in that, and to our amazement, we won 6-3, 7-6(6). It was by far the biggest win of our careers, and we still couldn’t believe we had beaten such a highly experienced team. Our hard work had paid off, and every sacrifice and moment of dedication was worth it.

Our high didn’t last long, as we quickly shifted our focus to the quarterfinals, where we were set to face a Canadian duo with players ranked 284 and 235 in the world. Another tough challenge—something we’ve become accustomed to—but unfortunately, we couldn't come out on top. Their playing style posed a real challenge to our game, and we struggled to execute consistently, which was crucial for securing a win. The final score was 5-7, 2-6, but we walked away with plenty of valuable lessons from the match.

Back at our host family's home after the tournament, we had a moment to reflect. We realized that by winning our first-round match and making it to the quarterfinals, we had earned 9 WTA points—the most we’d ever accumulated in a single tournament. Our spirits were sky-high, and we were beyond excited to see our rankings climb to new heights.

Fueled by this momentum, our attention turned to the next 35k tournament in Bakersfield, California that was to be played the following week. While it was a risk to drive all the way out there without a guaranteed spot in the draw, we’ve always believed in taking chances, and we were ready to go for it once again.

Price Breakdown (Total for Redding, CA and Bakersfield, CA):

• Flight: 2 x $150

• Bags: 4 x $35

• Car: $150

• Gas: $132

• Groceries: $150

• Tournament Entry: 4 x $20

• Total Cost: $952

• Total Earnings: $328

Our trip to Huntsville, Alabama, on August 10th, 2024, was the first time we drove to a tournament instead of flying. This had a huge impact on our budget. The 9.5-hour drive was a long haul, but we knew it would be worth it. We rented an Airbnb just 10 minutes from the tournament site that was near Downtown Huntsville with lots of food courts and plazas.

Heading into the tournament, we weren’t sure we would even make it in with our current ranking, but we were willing to take the risk with the tournament being within driving distance. Not many 15k tournaments are held in the US, so the opportunity was too good to pass up. To our shock and excitement, not only did we qualify, but we also landed the 3rd seed. This was our first official seeding at a US tournament! It felt like a breakthrough moment.

In the first round, we faced a challenging duo, an American who had previously won a W35k paired with a Brazilian ranked #959. We played a near-perfect first set controlling the pace and securing a 6-2 win. In the second set, the momentum shifted. Our opponents began to play more freely and we found ourselves on the losing end of a 3-6 scoreline. A 10-point tiebreaker loomed and despite the nerves, we stayed calm, embracing the match as a fun experience. Starting the tiebreaker 1-6 down, the odds seemed slim, but we weren’t ready to give up. As tennis players, we know how tough it is to come back from a deficit like that, but we kept fighting, point by point. Before we knew it, we were 6-6, the pressure high as ever. At 9-8 we earned a match point, and with no hesitation, we closed it out. Madi finished the point with a perfect overhead that flew over the fence for a winner. It was an emotional, hard-fought comeback that left us both stunned and elated. The victory was a huge confidence boost and a testament to our ability to push through mental barriers in high-pressure moments. We felt like we were finally making progress not only with our tennis abilities but with our ability to control our emotions and thoughts on court.

In the quarterfinals, we met a team that completely surprised us. An American ranked #1315 and an Australian ranked #361, who would go on to win the tournament. They won the first set 6-0 with no hesitation and were very dominant. We struggled to find our rhythm and couldn't get to the net first. After a quick reset, the second set was a different story. We fought back, saving two set points and even earning one ourselves to force a third-set tiebreaker. Unfortunately, we lost 6-7 (6), but the intensity of the match was something we hadn’t felt in a while. It was a high-level contest that taught us where we need to improve to reach that next level.

All in all, this trip to Huntsville was both productive and enriching. We gained so much from the experience. The confidence boost and the feeling of competing at a higher level were invaluable. It was now time to go home, refocus, and start preparing for the next trip. Hopefully, one that will come soon.

Total Points Earned: 3

Price Breakdown

• Lodging: $879

• Gas: $120

• Groceries: $200

• Tournament Entry: 2 x $20

• Total Cost: $1239

• Total Earnings: $148

We ended up getting into the tournament and also received a nice first round match up. In the R16 we faced 2 Americans ranked around 1530. The courts felt very different than what we were used to so it took us a little bit of time to warm up. We luckily won that match 6-1, 6-4. On July 4th, we were schedule to play the quarterfinals. Upon arrival to the tennis center, the tournament director called to inform us that our opponent had pulled out (withdrew) due to injury. At the pro level, a withdrawal counts as a win, therefore, we were moving onto the semifinals picking up more WTA points and more money. We were able to celebrate a nice 4th of July by going to the mountains and having a day by the river which Guinness very much enjoyed.

We did not anticipate to make it this far in the tournament. We actually had to change our flights to a later date costing us a little extra money. We always try to fly home as early as possible, therefore, we don’t miss too much work. If needed, we will pay the change fee on our flight to stay longer. In the semifinals we played an American ranked 760 and a South African ranked 1100. These girls showed us a whole new level of pace. These girls were extremely aggressive and left us on defense practically the whole match. In that moment, we felt underprepared and like we were being blown off the court.

This tournament was a big wake up call for us. We realized that we are good enough to begin playing tournaments in the US which will help save money. However, we felt very underprepared for the level of pro tennis in the US. This is due to how little we were able to practice leading up to this trip. In the 2 weeks before we left, we played 1 practice match. This lack of practice is due to the fact that we need to work everyday to afford this lifestyle. This trip showed us that if we want to make the jump to the next level, something needs to change. We were going to need to head back to work and discuss the possibility of practicing more. Ultimately, we could not keep doing what we were doing if we want to be top in the world.

This trip was a big accomplishment for us and helped us pick up 6 WTA points in 1 week. It also showed us that our practice schedule is not good enough if we want to play pro tennis in the US. Overall, we had a successful trip and fun little getaway for not too much money.

Total WTA Points Earned: 6

Price Breakdown

• Flight: 2 x $500

• Bag: 4 x $35

• Tournament Entry: 2 x $20

• Groceries: $200

• Gas: $150

• Total Cost: $1530

• Total Earnings: $294

Unlike the other tournaments we had played thus far, there was no all inclusive resort. Each tournament offers a tournament hotel, however, it is not required for you to stay there. We found it to be much cheaper ($55/night) and convenient to rent an apartment right across the street from the ocean and a short 8 minute drive from the courts. Driving in the Dominican Republic is an experience that can be described in one word, chaos. For this reason, we could not rent a car and were left ubering everywhere. The price of the Ubers were extremely cheap ranging anywhere from $2-$5 each trip which helped keep our expenses low.

Before the start of any tournaments, we were able to celebrate Madison’s 24th birthday on June 3rd. We celebrated by exploring the town and eating dinner in a cave. It was such a cool experience and a great place to celebrate a birthday!

We had the opportunity to play 2 W15k’s while we were in the DR. With our new world ranking of 1500, we were able to get into both of the tournaments without a wildcard. Playing in the Dominican Republic in June is not for the weak. It was 90 degrees and 85% humidity leaving many players cramping and heat stroking. Thanks to our time in Florida, this weather felt like any a normal day to us.

The first tournament we played a non seeded team in the round of 16. We felt confident in our games and pulled out the win 6-1, 6-3. In the quarter finals we faced the first seeded team from Mexico and Bulgaria ranked 300 in the world. We started the match off firing and were playing extremely well. When the realization hit of how well we were doing, we began to feel some nerves and blew the lead. We ended up losing 6-2, 5-7, 6-10. We were frustrated with how we let our nerves get in the way, however, it was hard to be mad after seeing all the progress we have been making. When we pour so much money that we don’t have into a tournament, it is hard not to put so much pressure on ourselves to win. This is something that we are learning to work through and will come with more experience.

In the 2nd tournament we played a team ranked 1553 in the first round. Again, we came out the gates strong and took that match 6-2, 6-1. After this match, we had quite the experience. If you know anything about us you would know that our love for animals is like no other. Seeing all of the stray animals on the streets in the DR was extremely difficult. Upon finishing our match, we witnessed a man dump a 2 week old kitten on the side of the road. Hearing the cries of this kitten and watching it chase the guy to his truck was beyond heartbreaking. We couldn’t physically leave this kitten alone on the streets when it was too little to survive on its own. So what do we do? The only logical thing of course. We grabbed the 1lb kitten, stuffed it in my sweatshirt pocket, and got into the Uber.

We clearly hadn’t thought things through. We now had a kitten in an airbnb that didn’t allow animals, we were heading home in less than 4 days, and we had a match the next day. We called around to numerous animal shelters, however, not many of the workers spoke English leaving us struggling. We scavenged for food and anything we could give this kitten but it looked like she would be spending the night with us. The next morning, our match preparation was spent walking to the grocery store to get her food and toys. When it came time to leave for our match we made her a home in the airbnb bath tub with a blanket, litter box and kitten food.

Leaving the kitten at home, in the quarterfinals, we faced the 2nd seeded team from India ranked around 700. Once again, we started the match off strong. When they raised their level of play, we struggled to compensate once again. After a 2 hour grueling match, we lost 6-4, 1-6, 9-11. We were extremely frustrated that we blew the lead against a better ranked team once again. If we want to make it far, we are going to need to learn how to control our nerves and the pressure that we put on ourselves.

Upon returning to the airbnb, the kitten was extremely happy and had begun eating and going to the bathroom on her own. Before our match, we found one shelter that was able to post pictures of the kitten on instagram to help us find her a home. After our match, we had numerous messages from interested people. Luckily, a sweet mom and daughter reached out wanting to adopt the kitten. Later that night, we met up with the family and handed her over. The 7 year daughter was ecstatic to finally have a kitten. The next couple of days we received numerous photos of the kitten at her new house with a bunch of toys and enjoying her life! To this day, we still receive photos of the kitten thriving in her new home.

This was definitely an eventful trip and these loses obviously hurt. However, our level of play had increased tremendously in the last few months and we put ourselves in a winning position. We were overall very happy with how this trip went and we were heading home with 6 WTA points to help our ranking. We put ourselves in a great position heading into the busy summer!

Toal WTA Points Earned: 6

Price Breakdown:

• Flight: 2 x $480

• Bags: 4 x $35

• Lodging: $998

• Transportation: $325

• Groceries: $400

• Tournament Entry Fee: 4 x $20

• Total Cost: $2,903

• Total Prize Money: $296

For the first tournament, we still needed to receive a wildcard entry as our new ranking was not yet good enough to get in on our own. Since this tournament was played on red clay which neither of us had played on before, we signed up for singles qualifying to get acclimated to the courts. To our surprise, we both did well in singles. Madi won three rounds to qualify for the main draw but was knocked out in a close three-set match by a German player ranked #1182 in the world. Anastasia fell in the second round of the qualifying draw in straight sets to a former world #175.

Playing numerous singles matches paid off as we became more comfortable on the clay before our doubles match. In the first round of doubles, we faced a top-seeded team. We had many opportunities to win the first set, but in the end, we lost 7-5, 6-0. It was a tough loss, but it was also an important learning experience. We knew that continuously putting ourselves in these high-pressure situations would make us better in the long run.

We thankfully had another week of preparation before the start of the second tournament. Anastasia decided to play singles again making it to the second round of the qualifying draw before losing in a 3rd set tiebreak. Madison did not play singles due to food poisoning but thankfully she recovered in time for doubles. For this second tournament, we qualified for doubles with our own ranking, marking the first time we got into a tournament without a wildcard. In the first round, we faced a strong, unseeded pair from Bulgaria and Argentina ranked around 800 in the world. We had a grueling 2 hour match in which we won 7-5, 4-6, 10-4. This was the first team we had beaten that had a world ranking!

In the quarterfinals, we faced the #3 seed. The match was a nail-biter, with us having a set point in the first set and leads in the second, but we ultimately lost 6-7, 4-6. While we were disappointed by the loss, we were proud of the significant progress we had made in such a short time. Our game had grown stronger, and we left the tournament with many valuable takeaways.

Upon our return to Florida, we were met with the unfortunate news that our luggage didn’t make it back with us. It took nearly a month for the airline to locate and ship our bags home, but thankfully, everything arrived without damage or loss.

Overall, the trip was a great success. We gained invaluable experience, improved our game, and learned a lot about ourselves and each other as players. Despite the challenges along the way, we’re excited for what comes next.

Total WTA Points Earned: 3

Price Breakdown:

• Flight: 2 x $1400 = $2800

• Lodging: 2 x $1100 = $2200

• Clay Shoes: 2 x $130 = 260

• Tournament Entry : 4 x $20

• Total Cost: $5,340

• Total Prize Money: $369

For our first round match, we were going to face a really hard team. We played the 2nd seeded team, a pair of American twins that had just won NCAA’s and were ranked 400 in the world. Going into this tournament, we definitely did not feel very prepared. During the time leading up to this match, we were in between jobs and struggling to find a reliable paying job to afford our pro lifestyle. Therefore, we did not spend much time training and preparing for this tournament. We ended up losing the match 6-1, 6-3 and we were not very happy with how it went. We did not play to our fullest potential and were simply outplayed.

This tournament showed us that pro tennis in the US is a different level and that we needed to really increase our preparation in the future to make this dream of ours come true. However, we were grateful for the opportunity to obtain 1 WTA point and also for the opportunity to see what the top pro players in the US look like. This allowed us to compare and see what exactly we need to work on to get to this level in the future.

With this tournament being at home, we had no expenses and were able to actually make a profit on a tournament for once. If only more tournaments were held in FL! It takes 2 weeks for WTA to process any results. Therefore, we were going to have to wait 2 weeks to see what our very first ranking was going to be!

Total WTA Points Earned: 1

Total Expenses:

• Tournament Entry: 2 x $20

• Total Expenses: $40

• Total Prize Money: $132

Before making this journey, we had many obstacles that almost got in our way. About 2 weeks before we were scheduled to depart Tampa, the attack on October 7th occurred just a mere 6 hours away from Sharm el-Sheikh. The area was considered to be unpredictable due to numerous protests. There were numerous concerns regarding our safety and whether or not we would be putting ourselves in a vulnerable position. After taking into consideration the resort security and the proximity of the tennis courts to the resort and the airport, we concluded that our lives would not be in danger.

To make things more excited, 1 week before our departure, Madison rolled her ankle during a practice match and partially tore her AMFL. This left her not being able to practice the week before the tournament and left her playing in pain throughout the duration of the trip. Despite these obstacles, Madison and Anastasia were not going to let anything stop them from competing in their first professional tournament.

The all inclusive resort was not a bad place to spend 25 nights playing tennis. There were 4 hard courts directly on the resort, a downtown shopping center a 5 minute walk away, and gorgeous views of the Red Sea less than a 10 minute walk away. We had so much knowledge to gain during our first few days at the Sierra Hotel and had to get used to the 7 hour time change. We were glad that we chose to fly in 5 days before the tournament began to allow ourselves time to adjust.

The tournament director graciously gave us a wildcard into the first tournament which was a W35K, the second lowest professional tournament offered. The tournaments offered are as follows:

W15k

W35k

W50k

W75k

W100K

WTA125

WTA250

Grand slams

For our first pro match ever, in the round of 16, we faced the 3rd seeds who were from Romania and France and ranked around 300 in the world. We put up a solid fight in the first set getting to 4-4. This was a level of tennis that we had yet to experience and ultimately the more experienced team broke away at this point. We lost this match 4-6, 1-6. With the preparation we had going into this tournament, we were happy with how we played. This match allowed us to see where exactly we lie with the competition out there and what we need to change to be able to compete with the top girls. The style of play at this tournament was completely different than the style of play in college. This was something we were going to have to get used to.

This early loss gave us multiple days to practice, learn more about how these tournaments work, and be better prepared for the next tournament. For the second tournament, we received a wildcard into a W15k, the lowest professional tournament offered. In the round of 16, we faced an unseeded team from Japan and Norway. After an insanely close first set, we were able to secure the win 7-6 (8), 6-2. This marked our first win on the pro circuit and we couldn’t have been happier! There was so much progress and development in just a couple days. Being on a resort with no work and lots of time to practice and workout was really making a difference.

We had one day after our win to get our bodies ready for our quarterfinal match. We faced the 2nd seeds from Egypt and Russia who were ranked 400 in the world. Not knowing all of the details as to how these tournaments work, we were put in a situation where our match was moved earlier than we anticipated. This left us going into the match with no warm up or preparation. Despite the lack of warm up, we put up a fight with these girls but fell short with a score of 4-6, 2-6. This tournament was definitely a learning experience, however, we were very happy with our results and were excited to have the opportunity to compete in one more tournament before making the trek home.

We received another wildcard into a W15k, giving us the opportunity to play 3 tournaments during our time in Egypt. Now that we were used to the competition, we decided to sign up for the singles qualifying round in the 3rd tournament. Madison lost a close 3 set match, 7-5, 3-6, 6-10 while still recovering from her ankle injury. Anastasia won 2 matches and qualified for the main draw. In the round of 32, she faced the 4th seed ranked 750 in the world from Russia. After an insanely physical match, she fell short 3-6, 3-6. These singles matches helped better prepare us for our doubles match the next day.

In the round of 16 for doubles, we were paired up against 2 Russians ranked 800 in the world. We started the match extremely strong and took the first set 6-2. These girls changed their style of play and we struggled to adjust ours to match this new style. This led us to lose the second set 3-6. In the event that we split sets, there is a 10 point super tiebreak instead of a full 3rd set. After a long 2 hour match, we lost the super breaker 5-10. This loss was a tough one to digest. We expect a lot out of ourselves and we knew we were better than this team. However, we had to take a step back and look at the big picture. This was our first trip to play professional tournaments, we knew very little coming into this, and we did not have the best practice leading up to these tournaments. Despite wanting more, we were happy with how this trip went and were excited to head home and get back to the drawing board.

This trip was a wake up call as to how expensive the professional tour was going to be. This experience was a great way to start our career. However, due to expenses, we were not able to play another tournament for about 6 months. Despite these roadblocks, we were determined to keep playing and doing whatever it took to be able to afford this lifestyle.

You receive a number of WTA points for each match you win and depending on what level of tournament you play. The prize money and number of WTA points increases as the tournament level increases. In order to obtain a ranking, we needed to collect 3 WTA points. This system is in place to make sure that rankings are not handed out easily. There are too many girls attempting to play on the pro circuit, therefore, WTA had to make the criteria more difficult. We were leaving Egypt with 2 WTA points, therefore, we were not yet going to have a ranking.

Total WTA Points Earned: 2

Price Breakdown

• Flight: 2 x $1295 = $2590

• Lodging: 2 x $2350 = $4,700

• New travel bags: 2 x $100 = $200

• Strings for racquets: 2 x $115 = $230

• Tournament Entry: 6 x $20 = 120

• Total Cost: $7,840

• Total Earnings: $559