Andre Ilagan, a Filipino American professional tennis player from Hawaii, has earned a wild-card entry into U.S. Open qualifying, becoming the first former University of Hawaiʻi men’s tennis player to compete at the Grand Slam tournament.
Ilagan, 25, will begin qualifying Aug. 23 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York. He must win three matches to reach the U.S. Open main draw, which begins Aug. 30.
For Ilagan, the opportunity follows the strongest stretch of his young professional career. He rose 33 places to a career-best No. 210 in the ATP rankings after reaching the championship matches of his last two ATP Challenger events. University of Hawaiʻi Athletics said he is expected to enter the Top 200 after those results.
At the Lexington Open ATP Challenger 75, Ilagan entered as an alternate and won four straight matches before losing a three-set final to Lithuania’s Edas Butvilas. The following week, he again reached the final at the Indiana Hardcourt Championships ATP Challenger 75, where he fell to South Africa’s Lloyd Harris.
The Kalihi-born player is a 2018 Farrington High School graduate who won consecutive Hawaii state singles championships as a junior and senior. He completed one of the most decorated careers in University of Hawaiʻi men’s tennis history before turning professional in 2023.
During his college career, Ilagan helped the Rainbow Warriors reach back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2022 and 2023. In 2023, he became the program’s first Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American after advancing to the NCAA Round of 16. He was also named Big West Player of the Year and earned All-Big West recognition in singles and doubles four times.
Ilagan began his professional career on the ITF Futures circuit before moving into ATP Challenger events. He is coached by Daniel Llarenas, a fellow University of Hawaiʻi tennis alumnus.
In an interview with Hawaii News Now, Ilagan said his U.S. Open debut carries personal and community significance beyond the prize money and ranking points.
“Just being proud to, you know, represent the island, the culture, you know, the team and your coaches,” Ilagan said. “I feel like that’s the biggest thing.”
The ITF lists Ilagan as a 25-year-old American left-handed player.
