Samoa's top-ranked female tennis player says she's under no illusions about the challenges and cost of turning professional.
Steffi Carruthers is the second-ranked junior in the Pacific and was last month a part of Samoa's gold medal winning team at the Oceania Championships, where she also won a silver medal in singles.
The 19 year old has been offered a place at a tennis academy in Miami, Florida, which would cost 4000 US dollars per month, and is trying to recruit sponsors.
She knows the road to professionalism won't be easy but says there's no better time to give it a crack.
"I'm blessed to have a mum that always pushes me and no matter what -how much this is going to cost - she sees it in me and she tells me just keep going because it's what I want. I'm prepared for that. I'm really happy I can get a chance because a few years ago I felt like I'm quitting because I can see that there's a lot of competition and I don't see other girls from the Pacific doing so well and so I can't be more ready than now."
Steffi Carruthers says her initial goal is to break into the world's top 500 players.
