Martina Colmegna, life and sacrifices of a “normal” tennis player
The athlete from Cesano Maderno, number 578 in the Wta ranking, talks about her professional career away from the spotlight: "I travel alone and I don't cheat on food and other vices. I want to stay in this environment"
Martina Colmegna took part in her first professional tournament at the age of 16
Cesano Maderno, April 9, 2025 – Martina Colmegna is someone who doesn't give up. In particular to a "dancing" shoulder that has probably taken a lot away from her in her career. Today she is number 578 in the WTA ranking, in February 2023, coincidentally after a year without physical problems, she reached position 347, even 185 in doubles where she took a lot of satisfactions.
She doesn't give up on a life of sacrifices that has allowed her up to now - she's 28 years old - to do what she likes most. It's not the golden world of the Slams, but she travels, plays tennis and he imagines a future in the sport he has been practicing since he was 6 years old on the fields of via Po in Cesano Maderno, his city.
His daily life runs parallel to tennis, all in function of the sport, but how much has it cost in terms of sacrifices?
“Obviously a lot, and it has been like this for at least a dozen years since I started playing tournaments outside of Italy. I have been a professional tennis player since I was 16 when I took part in my first $10 tournament. Training, travel and above all a lifestyle that has to be perfect. Few vices, eating well, in short what they call the athlete's life”.
Economic sacrifices too, we imagine. The important prizes are taken home by the top 200 in the world. It's hard to stay afloat below. How do you do it?
“It happens that I travel alone. Without companions and without a coach, otherwise the costs double. I am the one who organizes the trips, books flights and hotels. And then I am a sort of employer because it is up to me to pay the coach, the masseur, the physiotherapist. There is a whole world that revolves around a professional athlete. Today I can support myself without anyone's help. Team tournaments help, I also played in the German A series, in Cesano we played in the A2 series, this year I will play in the B1 in Clusone”.
A tennis accountant, in short. The greatest satisfactions in her career?
“I qualified for the Rome International twice. I played and lost against Monica Puig who would later win the gold medal at the Rio Olympics.”
What about 2025?
"The first goal is to play all year without physical problems. Now there is Bellinzona, I am raising the bar a bit in future tournaments".
You will turn 29 in December, are you already thinking about the future?
“I have to say that tennis offers many career opportunities. I will definitely stay in the field, I will teach, I will follow some athletes. We will see. Now I only think about playing and I want to do it as much as possible”.