Li Tu
Li Tu is a professional tennis player and Bachelor of Commerce graduate whose unusual career path has taught him the value of hard work, reliability, focusing on what's truly important, and having a great team by your side.
Li played tennis professionally in high school, but left the career at 18 feeling burnt out by the extreme pressure and expectations. He pivoted, studying a Bachelor of Commerce and starting his own tennis coaching business. At 24 years old, Li made an impressive return to professional tennis and has since won multiple ITF titles, achieved a highest career ranking of 168, and played a US Open Grand Slam. After travelling the world for his sport, he has just taken on No.24 seed, Jiri Lehecka, on home turf in the 2025 Australian Open.
Li shared some insights with us about his professional comeback, what drove him to return, and what he learnt in the interim that helped him fall in love with the game again.
You’re only 28 but you've already had a varied career in tennis and business. Can you tell us a bit about it?
Li: I walked away from playing tennis professionally when I was 18. After tennis, I was trying to find my next passion or purpose in life. I chose to study Bachelor of Commerce at Adelaide University as my parents owned a bean sprout business and I thought it was a nice degree to give me lots of options for the future and potentially use the knowledge to further my parent’s business.
While I was studying, I was a waiter, a delivery driver, dabbled in real estate and did tennis coaching for pocket money. When I finished University, I found myself really enjoying my tennis coaching and decided to start my own tennis coaching business, which soon turned into M2Tennis partnering Ben Milner. I rediscovered my passion for the sport and loved being back on court – it felt like home. During Covid, a lot of things just seemed to fall in place for me to make a comeback into tennis and so I decided to give it another shot with the help of my team.
"I rediscovered my passion for the sport and loved being back on court – it felt like home."
How important was it to have a break from professional tennis and what was the catalyst for your return? What did you learn over those six years?
Li: I first had a break from pursuing professional tennis when I was 15. I played tennis full time from the ages of 13-15 and decided to quit and go back to school in Year 11. I finished Year 11 and 12 at Prince Alfred College. The pressure and expectation just got me, and I fell out of love with the sport. I had a small comeback for seven months when I finished high school but I still wasn’t quite ready.
The catalyst for my return was honestly found in my tennis coaching. Walking away from the sport really helped me put things into perspective and then coaching elite juniors allowed me to see things from a different lens. I learnt that results, tournaments, outcomes are such fleeting moments in tennis and if you live for the wins and beat yourself up for the losses, it isn’t sustainable. I know it is a cliché, but when you learn to love the process, tennis can be so fun and rewarding. I love improving, trying to be better than I was, constantly finding new things to add or learn about myself. It is a way of life and tennis is currently driving that, and I am sure after tennis I will find something else to drive me to be better.
"...results, tournaments, outcomes are such fleeting moments in tennis and if you live for the wins and beat yourself up for the losses, it isn’t sustainable. I know it is a cliché, but when you learn to love the process, tennis can be so fun and rewarding. I love improving, trying to be better than I was, constantly finding new things to add or learn about myself. It is a way of life..."
What challenges have you had to overcome to get to where you are now?
Li: I have had to overcome lots of doubt and fear. It wasn’t easy coming back to tennis for the 3rd time after 6 years. What are people going to think? What if it doesn’t work out? I am so glad I decided to take the plunge and give it another go. There have been many learnings on the way since then, but it has been so enjoyable.
What have been the proudest moments of your life so far?
Li: Winning my first Challenger Title a few weeks after my Mum passed away was a special moment for me and my family. To bring a smile to the family back home watching during such a difficult time for us and doing it for/with Mum.
Qualifying for my first Grand Slam last year at US Open and playing Carlos Alcaraz on the biggest tennis stadium in the world in front of a packed audience was absolutely incredible.
Who inspires you?
Li: My parents inspire me the most. Listening to their stories about their upbringings, coming to Australia with nothing, not even speaking the language and creating a comfortable life for me and my brother has inspired us to work hard and achieve our goals. Hard work is in our DNA, but we always say that it doesn’t matter how hard we work – it will never be close to what they did.
What do you remember of your University of Adelaide days?
Li: My favourite memory would have to be doing the e-challenge with my good friend Sam who I still am very close with to this day. It was an eye-opening experience to learn about start-ups, business incubators and entrepreneurship. It is definitely something I would think about doing in the future.
What advice would you give to your 18-year old self?
Li:
- Don’t be so hard on yourself, you are still so young and have lots to learn.
- Surround yourself with the right people that lift you up and make you better.
- If you say you will do something or be somewhere at a certain time, honour that.
- Be diligent.
"Surround yourself with the right people that lift you up and make you better."