Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Chan.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started playing tennis in high school at age 14, somewhat by accident. A friend asked me to join the team because we were short on boys and would otherwise have to forfeit an upcoming match. I quickly fell in love with the sport. Although our team struggled, I helped get a group of teammates to take tennis more seriously, and we eventually turned things around enough to win several team matches. At the time, the program had not won a team match in at least 25 years, so being part of that turnaround had a lasting impact on me.
In college, I founded the Tennis on Campus club program at UMBC and served as its president. Through the program, I became connected with my local USTA section, USTA Mid-Atlantic, which ultimately opened the door to a career in the tennis industry.
After college, I spent a couple of years working at a local tennis club, where I became the head racquet stringer and front desk manager. During that time, I also began a master’s program in industrial/organizational psychology. I eventually received an opportunity to work for USTA Virginia and later joined USTA Mid-Atlantic, where I spent approximately 13 years working primarily in community and recreation programs. I eventually led those departments and worked with a wide range of schools, parks and recreation agencies, community organizations, and tennis providers to expand access to the sport.
During my time with USTA, I also developed an interest in tennis marketing and social media. I managed a social media account for USTA Maryland before the district was absorbed into the Section and continued supporting the Section’s marketing department with social media content.
Around 2015, I started my own personal tennis Instagram account simply for fun. In 2020, I began taking content creation more seriously and shifted toward creating content for a broader public audience. Over the years, I developed relationships with more tennis brands, grew my audience, and began monetizing my platform through brand partnerships.
In 2025, I took that side of my career to another level, focusing more heavily on long-term brand partnerships while also providing social media marketing consulting to tennis brands and creators. Today, my work sits at the intersection of tennis, content creation, and marketing.
Outside of social media and consulting, I remain actively involved in the tennis community. I serve on a USTA National Volunteer Committee, sit on the board of the Tokki Catalyst Foundation, serve on the Marketing Committee for the AAPI Tennis Association, and work part-time as the Executive Director of Marketing & Operations for the Tennis Alliance of Anne Arundel County.
I am also a certified teaching professional, an experienced racquet stringer with more than 20 years of experience, and a recreational player with a 4.0 NTRP rating.
Looking back, my tennis career has taken me in directions I never could have predicted when I first joined my high school team just to help avoid a forfeit. What started as an unexpected introduction to the sport has grown into a career that has allowed me to play, coach, string racquets, build community programs, create content, work with brands, and help other people connect with tennis.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I faced several obstacles along my path. I started playing tennis without formal training, forcing me to teach myself core skills. I still work to correct technical errors from those early years.
Finding my niche on social media required constant experimentation. I evaluate my strategy, content topics, and brand focus every year.
Securing stable brand partnerships remains a challenge. Finding long term partners with compensation that matches expected deliverables takes constant effort.
My primary challenge today is balancing my projects while raising two young children.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My primary creative outlet is Instagram (@alexchantennis), where I create content for recreational tennis players. I post relatable clips, educational tips, and reviews of relevant products or events.
I also run a broadcast channel for tennis creators and brands to share industry opportunities and actionable advice. My understanding of the business side of content creation sets me apart.
My 13 years at the USTA in grassroots and community tennis provide unique insights that give my content a distinct perspective.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Many aspiring creators hold back out of fear that their work won’t measure up, while others struggle with consistency. My advice? Just start. Challenge yourself to commit to a realistic schedule, whether that’s three times a week or every day, for a month or two. Consistency can help you grow an audience, but mainly it’s the fastest way to build the habit, overcome perfectionism, and sharpen your craft.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexchantennis
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexchantennis
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexchan86
