It might be seen as settling down but Dianne Hollands hopes her grand plan for 2009 will result in a rapid climb up the world tennis rankings.
Hollands, the former Otago No 1 and St Hildas head girl, has decided to return to New Zealand to live following two years based in Europe chasing her professional dreams.
She figures the move will allow her to cut costs, gain valuable rankings points by competing in less gruelling events in New Zealand, Australia and Asia, and help refocus her energies.
"I'll just be travelling every four weeks or so to the different tournaments," Hollands told the Otago Daily Times from her parents' home in Christchurch yesterday.
"It's such a good feeling. At least now, when I go away, it won't be for huge periods. I'll be able to come home and regroup and recharge my batteries."
Hollands (25) has spent the best part of the last two years in Germany, following a stellar college career at the University of Arizona.
She said the decision to come back to New Zealand, where she will be based in Auckland, should not be seen as a sign she was scaling back on her professional ambitions.
"It's just going to be easier. In Europe, I played as many tournaments as I could afford but the level of tennis is so much stronger and it's a real mission to get into tournaments and get through qualifiers and stuff.
"You could end up winning three or four games and get no ranking points, which is really tough.
"We tried to be as professional as possible but we ran out of money all the time. I'd be coaching to raise money, then going to play. It was part-time playing and part-time coaching, which wasn't ideal."
Hollands has tried to sustain her career through winnings but has had to rely on coaching income and the help of her parents.
She said she had found it difficult to attract sponsors because, at 25, she is seen as a less attractive investment as an 18 or 19-year-old player.
In many ways, Hollands has become the forgotten woman of a New Zealand tennis scene dominated, understandably, by the exciting Marina Erakovic.
Hollands chose not to come home last summer, so she's got no world ranking and thinks she may only be ranked about No 5 in New Zealand.
But, outside Erakovic, it seems plain Hollands is the best female player in the country.
She's just rattled off five consecutive tournament wins, including the New Zealand residential championships, on the home circuit and has been handed wildcard entry into the ASB Classic.
"I'm pretty pleased. I was really determined to do well this summer because I had a point to prove. It probably seems to some people like I've fallen off the face of the earth.
"I wasn't banking on the wildcard when the season started. I wasn't holding my breath because I had no ranking. But I'm really stoked because it's a great tournament and I'll be in the middle of some great competition."
Hollands recognises that Erakovic, who reached the ASB Classic semifinal and the third round at Wimbledon this year, is in a league of her own.
But she thinks the rest of the top New Zealand women, including herself and top-350 ranked Ellen Barry and Sasha Jones, are on a par.
That's why Hollands is optimistic she can make serious progress during the next few years.
"When I was in Europe, I beat a couple of girls ranked in the late-200s. I remember thinking it wasn't such a lofty goal for me to reach.
"I've got more motivation and confidence now because I know that if I put in the work, I can build my ranking. And I think getting into the top 250 in the world is realistic.
"My goal is to get my ranking as low as I can, to the point where I can get into the qualifiers for a Grand Slam. That's my ultimate goal. I want to be able to walk away from tennis with no regrets, knowing I gave it my best shot."
Hollands is lean and fit. Three years ago, she was sidelined by a thyroid-related illness that left her extremely lethargic.
She's also happy off the court, where her coach and No 1 supporter is her partner of more than two years, Adam Berretta.
