Hi, I’m Sofia Johnson, a 21-year-old tennis player from Great Britain, currently training at the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) in Washington, D.C.

I’ve been playing tennis since I was five years old — and now, after competing at Junior Wimbledon, winning the ITA Masters in 2024, and finishing my collegiate season ranked #22 (with a career high of #6), I’m taking the next step in my journey: transitioning to the professional tour.

I’m raising funds to help cover travel, tournament entry fees, training, and living expenses as I begin competing full-time internationally.

My Tennis Journey

I picked up my first racquet when I was just five years old, and from that moment, tennis became my passion. I loved the discipline, the mental challenge, and the excitement of competition.

As a junior, I won several county championships and began traveling internationally by the age of 11, gaining invaluable experience and learning from every match — win or lose.

One of my proudest moments came in 2022, when I competed at Junior Wimbledon. Walking through those famous gates and playing on those grass courts was a dream come true, and it solidified my commitment to make tennis my career

College Tennis and Key Achievements

At 17, I accepted a scholarship to Old Dominion University (ODU) in Virginia. Playing for ODU was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life — balancing studies and training taught me resilience, discipline, and teamwork.

I played at the #1 singles position for two years, finished my senior season ranked #22 nationally, and reached a career-high ranking of #6 among all U.S. collegiate players.

In 2024, I achieved one of my biggest milestones yet — winning the ITA Masters. That victory reinforced my belief that I can compete among the very best and inspired me to pursue tennis professionally.

After graduation, I began training at JTCC in Washington, D.C., an incredible environment filled with top players and coaches who push me to improve every day. You can even catch a glimpse of my training on the JTCC Instagram page.

My Professional Journey So Far

I’ve recently started competing in professional tournaments and have already made exciting progress.

Most recently, I played the San Rafael $35K ITF in California. I came through the main draw wild card playoffs, narrowly losing a tight match 7–10 in the 2nd set deciding tiebreak. From there, I earned a wild card into qualifying, battled through, and progressed to the main draw, where I won my first-round match — my second-highest ranked win ever.

In the second round, I faced the tournament’s No. 1 seed, putting up a strong fight before falling 5–7, 2–6. Competing at that level and pushing top-ranked professionals has only strengthened my determination to keep climbing.

Why I Need Your Support

Transitioning from college tennis to the professional circuit is an exciting but expensive challenge. Between travel, accommodation, tournament entry fees, coaching, and living expenses, the costs add up quickly.

Your generous support will help me fund:

Tournament travel & accommodation (national and international events)

Tournament entry fees

Living expenses while on tour

Equipment & stringing

Without this support, I risk missing key opportunities that are essential for my growth and ranking progression.

What Your Support Means

Every donation, no matter the size, makes a real difference.

£200 / $267 helps with rackets, shoes, strings

£40 / $53 covers a tournament entry fee

£700 / $935 can fund accommodation during competition

Larger donations support international tournaments and coaching

Your contributions will allow me to focus on training and competition, knowing that my basic expenses are covered. I’ll share regular updates, tournament results, and training insights so you can follow my journey every step of the way.

My Goal

I’m aiming to raise £25,000 ($33,000+) to fund my first year on the professional circuit.

Expenses:

Estimated Cost:

Travel & accommodation

£17,000

Tournament entry fees

£1,000

Training & living costs

£3,000

Equipment & coaching

£4,000

Total

£25,000

(These are estimated figures and may vary depending on tournament locations and scheduling.)

Tennis has shaped who I am — it’s taught me perseverance, humility, and how to fight for every point. I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who’s supported me on this journey so far and for those helping me take this next big step.

Thank you for believing in me, for cheering me on, and for helping me continue chasing my dream. Every share, message, and donation means more than I can express.

With love and gratitude,

Sofia Johnson

“One point at a time.”