By TERRY MADDAFORD
Dan Willman is not one of those rich-kid, tennis-playing brats. Far from it.
At one time he was off the courts for a couple of years, taking a deep breath, checking his finances and reassessing his future.
When he did get back into action, it was not easy.
Now, a year on and with a world ranking which has zoomed from around 1100 to a career-high 356, the 26-year-old, who first hit a ball at Torbay, on Auckland's North Shore, is poised to grab a wildcard entry into next month's Heineken Open tournament at Stanley St.
Tournament director Graham Pearce will not confirm his remaining wildcard until closer to the January 7 start - he has already handed one to American Michael Chang - but it seems certain that Willman will get to play as the highest-ranked New Zealander.
Mark Nielsen, the only real challenger for that ticket into the tournament, is ranked lower and lost to Willman in three clashes this year.
Getting to play at Stanley St in Auckland would be a huge turnaround for Willman.
Two years ago, he was at Auckland's home of tennis - but as a spectator and unsure which way his playing career was headed.
After those early days on the North Shore - he followed his mother and older brother, Mark, to the courts - and later winning the national 16s championships, Willman took up a tennis scholarship at the University of Idaho.
He graduated with degrees in sports medicine and psychology, married, and spent time working with his brother as a tennis coach.
And that was ironic.
In his younger days, unlike many of his peers, there was little money available for tennis lessons.
He was lucky to be able to afford, at best, one a month.
But he battled on with paper rounds and working at garden centres and in warehouses to keep a dream alive.
His enforced break came when his father and future father-in-law died within three days of each other.
He returned to New Zealand early last year, working as a coach at the Takapuna Tennis Club, while his wife, Elisa, took a marketing job with Westfield NZ.
With her support and encouragement, Willman tried his luck on the circuit.
In 20 tournaments this year, he reached four singles finals on the Futures Tour - the third tier behind the ATP and Challengers - and won in Edinburgh.
From eight doubles events he won twice and picked up around $US12,000.
Now, with the chance to play in front of his home crowd in New Zealand's biggest tournament, Willman is understandably excited.
"There will be no pressure. Every player in the Heineken Open will be ranked higher than me," Willman said.
"I will just go out and have a good time."
Willman is torn on who he would like to play first up if he gets into the main draw.
On one hand he would like to draw a qualifier, and with it the chance of a first-round win and much-needed ranking points.
On the other, he would like nothing more than the chance to play a United States Open champion, Marat Safin, or Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic.
"I would love to win a round," said Willman.
"But the experience of playing a great player would be something else."
Beyond the open, Willman has his sights set on returning for the Davis Cup tie against Indonesia in Invercargill and with it the opportunity to progress from a non-playing team member to on-court action.
That, surely, is a certainty.
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