Great tennis players rarely come out of Hawai’i.
Jim Osborne Jr. stood out as a notable exception. Born in Honolulu in 1945 to a prominent family, Osborne’s tennis journey began at Punahou High School, where his parents had established the Punahou Tennis Club. Following his education at the University of Utah, Osborne went on to achieve remarkable success as a doubles player, securing five doubles titles and earning an Olympic bronze medal as part of Team USA.
Andre Ilagan stands as Hawaii’s next remarkable exception — setting himself apart with a background that markedly contrasts with Osborne’s.
Hailing from a family of Filipino immigrants, Ilagan grew up in Kalihi, immersed in the world of tennis. With a mother employed in the mailroom, and his older brothers Anthony and Mark deeply passionate about the sport — his father, a self-taught coach and jewelry engraver, contributed to their tennis pursuits. Ilagan fondly recalls, “I just grew up in a tennis family.”
From an early age, Ilagan harbored aspirations of becoming a professional tennis player. Undeterred by the daunting challenges and odds, he remained steadfast in his determination, putting in relentless hard work. As he became more serious about the sport, he began devoting several hours each day, typically four to five, to rigorous practice sessions on the court.
“I had to make sacrifices, playing seven days a week,” Ilagan said. “Some things like socializing had to be limited because I just wanted to get better.”
Ilagan’s sacrifices paid off. He dominated local USTA junior tournaments and won multiple matches at the national level. In 2017, he became the first Farrington player to win the HHSAA state tournament, which he did again in 2018. By then, Ilagan was a senior with multiple colleges vying for him.
The University of Hawai’i at Manoa wasn’t initially Ilagan’s top college preference. “Growing up, I wanted to leave because I wanted to experience something new,” Ilagan said. “I told my parents I was gonna commit to the University of San Francisco. And then I talked to my brothers. They sat me down, like, ‘why not play for home?’”
After a thoughtful discussion with his brothers, Ilagan made the decision to remain in Hawai’i. His reasoning was simple yet profound: “Why not play for home and strive to create something significant here?”
Ilagan, who recently graduated from the University of Hawai’i in May after a five-year journey, did just that.
Though he won’t boast, there is no denying that Ilagan’s tenure at the University of Hawai’i was more than just significant. His contributions to Hawaii’s tennis program likely surpass those of any player in the school’s history, earning him a multitude of well-deserved accolades.
Ilagan’s remarkable achievements during his time at the University of Hawai’i include being honored as the Big West Freshman of the Year in 2019 and later being named the Big West Player of the Year in 2022. He consistently earned All-Big West first team recognition for singles in all years except 2020, and secured first team honors for doubles in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
In 2021, Ilagan made history by reaching an impressive #11 ranking in the ITA rankings, the highest ever attained by a University of Hawai’i player. He also received a coveted invitation to the ITA Fall Championships, becoming the first Rainbow Warrior to participate in this prestigious tournament.
The following year, in 2022, Ilagan accomplished the remarkable feat of becoming the second University of Hawai’i men’s player ever to qualify for the NCAA singles championship tournament. He repeated this achievement in his senior year of 2023, advancing to the Sweet 16 and becoming the first Big West player since 2013, as well as the sole player in Hawai’i history, to accomplish this remarkable milestone. As a result, he automatically earned All-American honors, once again making history for the University of Hawai’i tennis program.
Now that his storied college career has come to an end, Ilagan aspires to carry his success forward onto the professional circuit.
Following his participation in the NCAA championships, Ilagan wasted no time and swiftly embarked on his next endeavor. He traveled to Florida to commence dedicated training sessions in preparation for upcoming professional tournaments. In the coming weeks, he will be playing in a tournament in Georgia, followed by a couple of competitions in California.
While Ilagan misses Hawaii, he’s happy with where he is at. “I think home is always home, so I definitely miss it,” he said. “But I know at some point I’m gonna come back.”
Andre Ilagan serves as a testament to the notion that a local kid from Hawai’i can rise to become an exceptional tennis player, even without the advantages of a privileged background akin to Jim Osborne Jr. However, Ilagan firmly holds the belief that there is ample room for improvement within Hawaii’s tennis community.
“We just gotta push one another. I feel like today they only focus on being better in Hawai’i, not thinking big picture where, you know, I’m trying to compete nationally and be one of the best in the country, if not in the world,” Ilagan said. “Kids have to realize nothing comes easy, you have to sacrifice a bunch of things and suffer.”
Perhaps, in the future, if the tennis community in Hawai’i can emulate his example, players like Ilagan won’t merely be exceptions; they will become the standard expectation.