Andrew Chong IllINOIS || Tennis Career

Andrew Chong Illinois developed an interest in sports back in the 3^rd grade, when his family moved to Shanghai. The family had to move often due to his father’s job so there was never much time to pursue any particular hobbies. When they settled in Shanghai however, Andrew fell in love with tennis and has been pursuing it as a career and a hobby ever since.

As someone who was used to playing team sports like soccer, baseball, and others, Andrew Chong Illinois was attracted to tennis because of how unique it is in comparison. Whereas most sports practice team play and interactions with the other members of your team, tennis feels more like chess and problem-solving. The fact that you’re playing a prolonged game against a single opponent makes tennis more personal than other similar sports.

That problem-solving aspect was what Andrew Chong Illinois liked the most about it. Regardless of how far behind you are, there’s always a chance to bounce back and win the game. This is only possible because it is a technical and heavily skill-based game. Being in better shape than your opponent is certainly an advantage, but it doesn’t guarantee victory. This allows tennis matches to be fluid and enthralling to watch, as you can never know what to expect.

Andrew Chong Illinois spent his childhood playing on various kinds of surfaces, including hard and clay courts. He started favoring the playstyle of the clay courts, including a heavier focus on the forehands, nimble footwork, and heavy topspins. Playing on different surfaces can make a huge difference in terms of the requirements placed on the body, and it can affect your general playstyle.

Andrew Chong Illinois adopted a philosophy that considers mental fortitude and perseverance as the greatest values. It’s a mantra that he still firmly believes in and lives by. He always claimed that losing to a superior opponent is less important than doing everything in your power and learning something in the process. Defeat is always more productive than victory, as it forces you to reevaluate yourself and improve as a result.

Andrew Chong Illinois saw an opportunity for self-expression in tennis, and it left a profound impact on his life, shaping his core ideals. Solo sports stand out in this regard as you bear all the responsibilities for both success and failure. Everything you accomplish is the result of your work, and every player’s personality shines through.

After deciding to take his hobby to a competitive level, Andrew Chong Illinois participated in many tournaments, both in Shanghai and later in the U.S. He attended the Stanford Nike Tennis Camp as well as his high school tennis team throughout his studies. Later on, in college, Andrew Chong Illinois joined the UIUC’s Club Tennis Team and met many great people there who are still his friends.

Joining the club allowed him to practice his game at a higher level, which is something he always wanted to do. All the higher-ranking members of the club get the chance to compete at tournaments, so Andrew Chong Illinois used the opportunity. By competing, he also had to travel extensively due to preparations and the tournaments themselves.

He competed in Indiana and Wisconsin at Uni Notre Dame and Uni Wisconsin Whitewater, respectively. Andrew Chong Illinois ranked highly in both tournaments but later decided to focus his efforts on his other great passion, music.

He went on to teach cello at AMASE, the organization for children and teenagers with special needs, and he started doing humanitarian work after joining the King’s Academy. Andrew Chong Illinois still plays tennis every chance he gets, but more on a recreational level, as his career is now mostly focused on humanitarian pursuits.