THE FIRST RACKET
It began with
a $20 racket.
Born in Changsha and raised in Akita and Toronto, I found tennis at 13 with a neighbour and a $20 Walmart racket. From then on, I looked for every chance to play—even tying white plastic bags along a string as a makeshift net on an empty public court in the Canadian winter.
I strung my own rackets on a yellow $100 drop-weight machine, experimenting with a polyester/synthetic hybrid. My first two original Wilson Pro Staff 85s went with me into competition. In August 2006, I reached the Ontario Tennis Association top 10 in U18 boys’ singles.
That year, I watched the Canadian Open at York University. I was sponsored by Wilson at the time and invited to its special event and booth. Posing with that enormous racket is a memory of enjoying the game while working hard to go further.
Coaching became part of my tennis life after earning my Tennis Canada qualification in 2005. At Bayview Village Tennis Club in North York, Shawn, Alfonso Lorenzana and I helped more than 200 children improve through summer camps. I also represented the club in men’s doubles.
At the University of Waterloo, I played men’s singles against major Ontario universities. I also founded the UW Tennis Club, where our Tennis Academy held weekly sessions for more than 50 students each semester. My drive to keep playing had become a way to bring others onto the court.
Today in Tokyo, I am still working on my game and practising with others. As an official Tennisbear ambassador, I share practice and match reflections in Japanese—bringing the passion that began with a $20 racket to the next ball.
Play with passion. Grow with purpose.
Practise with me in Tokyo →