Q&A: Alex Han, 4-time Rally in the Valley champ & Furman University competitor

USTA Oklahoma had the chance to reconnect with Alex Han, who won an impressive four USTA Missouri Valley Rally in the Valley (formerly Sweet 16) singles titles. Han won Rally in the Valley championships in 2015 and 2017-19, and he is a standout talent hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

His success on the junior circuit opened the door to collegiate tennis, and Han currently competes for NCAA Division-I Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. You can learn more and register for the upcoming Level 3 Closed Rally in the Valley junior tournament, which takes place June 12-15 at Edmond Center Court in central Oklahoma, by clicking here.

Where do you live now?

Daytona Beach, Florida

Where did you live when you competed at the Sweet 16?

Tulsa, Oklahoma

What is your favorite thing about the sport?

Competing and also the places gone, people met and experiences had that without tennis I wouldn’t have the opportunity to have.

Favorite Rally in the Valley moment?

Winning it for the first time ever in the 12 & Unders, beating a player I’ve never been able to beat until that final. My whole family and grandparents came to that match—was a very cool moment for me!

Tell us about your experiences with Rally in the Valley and what made it stand out from other tournaments.

I loved the venue with the stadium court in the center. It was the biggest tournament for our section, so winning was a big deal to us tennis players. Every year I would go with my other academy players from Tucker Tennis, and I felt like I was a part of a team or family going to compete. It wasn’t just about myself, but rather competing for my other teammates I’ve trained with every day and representing our academy, wanting to show that we are the dominant academy for this section.

Did you go on to play college tennis?

Yes, I’m currently playing at Furman University.

What were some of your standout accomplishments in tennis?

Being ranked No. 1 in the Missouri Valley 12s to 18s; being ranked as high as 13 in the nation as a junior; getting a full ride at Furman University; finishing top three in a L1 National; receiving a Bronze Ball and a Gold Ball.

What are you doing now?

I am attending Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina; going to be a senior next fall.

Last, do you have any advice for the junior players today?

Tennis-wise, figure out your strengths and go all-in on your strengths while trying to refine your weaknesses. Everyone has different game styles and ways of winning, so at the end of the day the player who wins is the player who played their own style better than their opponent.

Life-wise, I felt I dedicated a lot of time into my craft sacrificing weekends to go to tournaments and attending online school so I could focus on my tennis. If I were to go back in time and change anything, I wish I would’ve just enjoyed my time on court at practice, at tournaments, and be grateful for the opportunities and experiences I was given.

It is hard when you want to win, get better, produce results and feel pressure. But when you look back, you don’t necessarily remember the wins or the trophies won. You remember the dinner with your teammates, the practices with your private coach, the friendships and bonds made from opponents, and the lessons learned.

As much as I love tennis, at the end of the day it is still a sport. It is a game. So, enjoy it while you can because I’d trade everything to go to practice as a young kid with the coaches and friends that I loved. Because time goes by quick, and next thing you know, you’re a senior like me playing potentially your last year of competitive tennis, so enjoy it!