It wasn’t until Thebe was 16 that he decided he wanted to test himself on the international stage and try to break into the professional ranks.
“I became really interested in actually pursuing that tennis dream, trying to get into the pro tour,” Thebe told Waikato All Sports Breakfast recently.
That dream is now taking shape.
With support from Waikato Tennis Association and a growing group of sponsors, Thebe will head overseas for three months to compete in base‑level tournaments on the ITF Men’s World Tour.
It’s the first rung on the ladder towards challenger events and eventually the ATP Tour.
“It’s the entry level. You progress up from there,” he said.
Since leaving school, Thebe has committed fully to tennis.
He trains three to four hours a day on-court, plus ball‑machine sessions to sharpen consistency and he runs around the lake three times a week.
Finding strong hitting partners in Hamilton has been a challenge, Thebe said, with many of Waikato’s top players having moved overseas or into college tennis pathways.
That’s why he makes regular trips to Tennis Auckland, as the club has offered him free access to high‑performance facilities and he can train against higher‑level athletes, building the competitive edge he’ll need on tour.
Aside from training, Thebe said the road to professional tennis required “a lot of finances”, with travel, accommodation, coaching, equipment and tournament entry fees all quickly adding up.
Since leaving school, Thando Thebe has committed fully to tennis. Photo / David M Photography
He said he is fortunate to have strong backing from his family and a group of sponsors who believe in his potential and are committed to supporting his journey.
“Once you … start winning more tournaments, more income comes in. I’m trying to build a team around me that can help out.”
While his immediate focus is the upcoming tournaments in Australia and Thailand, Thebe knows a major decision looms.
Strong results could open doors to Division I or II college tennis in the United States, a pathway many young players take to develop their game while earning a degree.
But he’s also considering going straight into fulltime professional tennis.
“I’ll have to decide in the next couple of months. We’ll see how we go.”
Graeme “Mintie” Mead is a sports commentator, the host of the radio show Waikato All Sports Breakfast and a Newstalk ZB overnight host. He is also a councillor on the Hamilton City Council.