Tennis with purpose: Taleia Tuatao uses sport to serve others

Rising tennis star Taleia Tuatao believes she was called upon by God to use tennis as a platform to minister.

The 20-year-old, of Sāmoan and Tongan heritage, is currently competing on the entry-level professional circuit and says the sport means much more to her than simply competing.

“Definitely from the get-go, I knew it was something different and not just a sport that I love to play. But this was where God had called me,” Taleia says.

“This was the ministry and the platform that I would use to ultimately go forth and make disciples.”

However, Taleia’s purpose and her tennis career had already been mapped out long before she was born.

Her parents, Brooke and Siaosi, owners of the gym, Fitmumz Fitcomm, based in Auckland and Hamilton, share that they turned to their faith when faced with a life-changing decision before Taleia was born.

Taleia Tuatao. Photo/Instagram

“We were going to have an abortion with Taleia,” Brooke says.

The devout Christian couple say they sought God’s guidance and came to believe their daughter’s calling would be found in tennis. Before Taleia was born, the couple purchased a racquet.

“I feel like it was Satan trying to stop that [Taleia’s purpose] before it even started, and I think that there is digging into what is purpose and what is the purpose for her life.

Taleia Tuatao with her father, Siaosi Tuatao. Photo/Instagram

“Looking at it now, there is nothing more that I would want to support than her going out and doing what she’s called to do,” Brooke says.

For her dad, Siaosi, it was the same understanding of ministry for their daughter, knowing the passion and deep care she has for people from all walks of life.

“The purpose here is not just tennis alone, but tennis in order to help”, Siaosi says, with her daughter having a passion for orphanages, Siaosi believes tennis is a “pathway” in regards to reaching those spaces.

While Taleia has a strong sense of purpose, it has not come without its challenges.

Taleia admits feeling insecure walking into tournaments at the age of 12, and thinking she was the least skilled and talented.

But a defining moment in her career came when she was told by her coach to call it quits at just 15-years-old.

Taleia and Brooke Tuatao competing in the 2026 Hyrox competition. Photo/Instagram

“I remember getting in the car and dad was in there and I told him everything because obviously he could see that I had been crying.

“It was a lot, especially coming from someone I really respected and who I loved as a coach.

“But after that day, it just set something in me that I was like I’m going to do this and I’m going to go as far as I can go and wherever that ends up is exactly where God wants me to be.”

Now with aspirations to compete in pinnacle events like Wimbledon and the Australian Open, Taleia’s current schedule requires lots of travelling.

In 2025 alone, Taleia travelled to eight different countries and spent 23 weeks away from home to chase her dream.

“Often she doesn’t want to go” Brooke says, acknowledging Taleia’s own interests that “if she had the choice, she would probably stay here [home], she loves this place, it's her family.”

But “In terms of showing what’s possible as a Polynesian kid, is to show that these things are possible.

“I think she is an awesome example of what she does and how she lives.”

While tennis can often make one feel isolated, Taleia says her parents have remained her biggest supporters throughout her journey.

"They are the people who have backed me through everything. Through coaches not believing in me, through people telling me what I'm doing is absolutely insanely stupid.

"When I've lost all hope in myself, just having those two back me like there is no tomorrow I couldn't be more thankful for the support of having parents that are so invested.”

Her father, who also helps coach her, says his pride in his daughter is matched by the belief that to always hungry for more.

“I'm proud”, Siaosi says, “but never satisfied. There's always work to be done. I'll forever be proud and back her and where she's currently at.

“But at the same time, there's always work to be done. And she knows that. And that's it. That's the constant reminder. Don't ever settle.”

Taleia understands the love that comes from her dad's coaching methods.

“That’s the whole mindset of chasing excellence,” Taleia says, adding her father “drilled that into me from the beginning,” and that the idea of never being satisfied has helped her “create that love of growth.”