Andre Ilagan

Andre Sharing His Journey With You (Written On August 8, 2023 on GoFundMe)

Aloha everyone,

Allow me to share my journey with you. My name is Andre Ilagan, I am a passionate aspiring professional tennis player born and raised on Oahu. From the moment I picked up a racquet as a toddler I fell in love.

Even before I was born, my mother was playing tennis with me in her belly. I started playing at a young age because of my older brothers Anthony (39), and Mark (37) who picked up the sport while they were in high school representing Farrington with my father as their coach. My baby sitting as a child was spent at Kalakaua tennis courts in Kalihi. Growing up in Hawai’i instilled many traits that have helped me to excel in tennis, such as humility, optimism, accountability, unwavering drive, and discipline. Additionally, my parents as first generation immigrants from the Philippines, taught me the importance of resilience and respect.

For the past 20 years my passion for the sport has been my driving force to constantly improve not only my own skills and mindset, but also lift up those around me. For the past 2 years I have been helping with Lokahi Tennis which is a non-profit based in Kailua with a goal of growing the sport in Hawai’i at all ages and levels by giving opportunities to those who typically would not be able to afford to participate. I have also been a part of clinics in Waimanalo to introduce tennis to children and taught aspiring adolescent athletes during the summer.

As many of you may be aware, tennis is a sport with considerable financial demands - from transportation and hotels to equipment and coaching. Growing up in Hawai’i, I faced more roadblocks to participate in tournaments compared to my mainland counterparts, due to the associated expenses with travel and minimal local opportunities. Nevertheless, I was fortunate to have supportive parents who diligently saved up to enable me to compete in 2 national tournaments per year. In a typical year from the ages of 14-18, I participated in an average of 13 tournaments per year. Comparatively, mainland athletes compete in an average of 30 tournaments per year.

My time at the University of Hawaii at Manoa was a transformative phase in my tennis journey. I was privileged to play for 5 years with a scholarship, during which I experienced tremendous growth and took my tennis game to new heights. Among my accomplishments, I reached as high as #11 in the ITA rankings and proudly became the first male all-American tennis player to represent the University of Hawai’i. After graduating in May, I started my first summer of professional tournaments, where I won the ITF Lakewood 15k and was a finalist at another 15k. I am currently sitting at #740 in the ATP Singles Ranking.

But my story doesn't end here. I am determined to keep going and to reach greater heights in the world of professional tennis. My goal is to be in the top 50 in the world. I want to prove that it is possible for someone from our beautiful state to become a high level professional tennis player, all the while representing the islands with aloha and respect. By doing so, I hope to inspire and pave the way for the keiki in Hawai’i, ensuring a brighter future for tennis in our community. However, to achieve this, I need your help and support. The road ahead is challenging, and I am seeking financial assistance to cover the costs associated with training, traveling to tournaments, accommodation, and acquiring the best tennis equipment.

I plan on being self-sufficient in 18 months to 2 years. In the meantime, my anticipated costs for a year are:
Accommodation: 7 days per week for 25 weeks at $40-$150 per night = $7,000-$26,250
Airfares: $15,000-$20,000
Transportation: $3,000-$8,000
Meals: 7 days per week for 30 weeks at $50 per day = $10,500
Racquet Stringing: average stringing 7 days per week for 30 weeks at $25 per stringing = $5,250
Equipment: $5,000
Total: $45,750- $75,000

By contributing to my journey, you will not only be supporting my dream, but you will also be playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of tennis in Hawai’i. Together, we can show the world that talent and dedication know no boundaries, even for athletes hailing from remote islands like ours.

Thank you for being a part of my story and for believing in my potential. Please feel free to contact me if you would like updates. With your support, I am determined to make Hawai’i proud and inspire the next generation of tennis enthusiasts.

Mahalo,

Andre Ilagan