Raul Garcia, a 24-year-old tennis player from Bolivia, is navigating the difficult path of pursuing a professional tennis career without the support systems enjoyed by many top players. With a career-high ranking of 1,248th, Garcia manages his own finances and logistics, lacking corporate sponsors, wealthy backers, or family wealth. His earnings from prize money often fall short of covering essential expenses such as travel, accommodation, and food.
In an effort to sustain himself and continue pursuing his dream of competing at tennis’s premier events, Garcia joined the second season of Intennse, a new tennis league based in a converted film studio in Atlanta, Georgia. The league offers guaranteed payments — $34,000 for playing throughout June and July — but does not provide ranking points. Garcia sees this as a rare chance to earn steady income while refining his game during the off-season. A strong performance in the league could also yield nightly winnings, such as $1,500 per match.
Garcia’s early tennis development occurred under challenging conditions in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. His grandmother coached him on uneven dirt courts with limited resources, and he later participated in a training program in China at age 14, despite language barriers and personal difficulties. Faced with limited competitive opportunities in Bolivia and disrupted plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Garcia accepted one of several scholarships to play collegiate tennis in the United States, moving to Kennesaw State University in 2020. There, he set records for wins before graduating in 2024 and turning his focus fully to the professional tour.
Garcia’s experience highlights the financial and emotional hardships faced by lower-ranked tennis players. He recently competed in a Futures tournament in Kingston, Jamaica, where he won several matches before falling in the quarterfinals. Although he earned just $438, his expenses for the trip exceeded $2,800. During the tournament, players lacked traditional support staff such as ball kids or line judges, sometimes having to share hotel rooms with unfamiliar opponents, underscoring the sport’s solitary nature at this level. Garcia supplements his income by giving lessons and working as a hitting partner for Taylor Townsend, a prominent women’s doubles player.
Alongside Garcia is Elmar Ejupovic, a 33-year-old American player with a career-high ranking of 273rd, who once defeated prominent opponents like Casper Ruud and faced Jannik Sinner. After personal setbacks, including a prolonged breakup, Ejupovic’s ranking fell to 742nd, and he remains uncertain about the longevity of his professional pursuit. Both players acknowledge the loneliness and mental challenges of competing below the top tiers, where passion and persistence drive many to continue despite limited recognition or financial reward.
Garcia and Ejupovic see little technical gap between themselves and established stars. They note that at the highest level, players often rely on timing and positioning rather than purely on power or speed. Both athletes retain aspirations of reaching the upper echelons of the sport, including Grand Slam tournaments, though they acknowledge the long and uncertain road ahead. For Garcia, the dream formed early, inspired by watching historic matches involving Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, and despite sacrifices such as distance from family, he remains committed to the pursuit of tennis’s biggest stages.