Perseverance paying dividends

Forget about the trophies, flowers and paychecks - life as a professional tennis player can be as cruel as double-faulting with a Grand Slam title on the line.

From Chinese ace Zhang Shuai's consecutive first-round losses at Grand Slams over eight years to rising British star Johanna Konta's long climb through the rankings, the ruthless nature of professional tennis has daunted many while rewarding only a few.

A genuine love of the sport is what it takes to withstand the grind before breakthroughs eventually come, as evidenced by the recent rise of both players.