The Revenge Story: How Dylan Kam Turned Doubt Into Determination

A disrespectful comment from a tennis uncle. A decision to prove him wrong. And now, Dylan Kam is a 2026 SCAA Open Challenger.

Dylan Kam has been watching the SCAA Open since he was seven years old. He's witnessed different champions lift the trophy year after year. He sat in the stands as a spectator, watching the best Hong Kong tennis had to offer. Now, he's one of them. "I have been watching SCAA tennis open since I was 7 years old," he says. "From an audience to now a challenger, it will be great to be one of the champions throughout SCAA history."

It's a full-circle moment for a player whose tennis journey started in the family. He comes from a tennis-playing family. The sport linked his life with so many people. He met friends. He built relationships. Tennis became more than a game—it became his community.

The Wake-Up Call

Here's the thing about Dylan's journey: it almost didn't happen. After graduation, he thought his competitive days were over. Work was busy. Life was moving on. He didn't think he would compete again. Then a tennis uncle said something rude and disrespectful. "He mocked my achievement was ages ago and said I'm not qualify to play for his team." That comment changed everything. To prove him wrong, Dylan started competing again. That same year, he won the President's Cup. And now, he's standing on the brink of the SCAA Open. "I think I did prove him wrong," he says with a laugh. "Thinking about it now, I find it so funny."

When things go wrong on court, Dylan doesn't panic. He doesn't get angry. He doesn't show weakness. He treats tennis like a war. "I won't be giving my opponent the satisfaction or encouragement seeing me struggle," he explains. "I think it's stupid to show your opponent your weak side." He stays calm because anger has no positive effect. It won't make him play any better. It just wastes energy. "I will accept the fact that not every match I can perform the standard I want. I use what I can have at that moment and maximise it."

It's a mindset born from experience. He's learned that being mad doesn't win points. Focus does. Managing the Uncontrollable. He sees the uncontrollable elements of tennis as what makes the sport fun and challenging. "Bad line calls, weather, crowd—those are all part of tennis," he says. "Since I can't control them, I won't spend a lot of energy whining about them."

Instead, he spends energy on what he can control. He maximises what he can do. He stays focused on his own game.

It's a simple philosophy. Stop complaining. Start playing. Balancing work and tennis is tough. Dylan tries to play at least once a week after work. He knows it's not a lot. So he adapts. "If you can't hit good shots, just prepare to run. Use fitness to compensate. And play smart."

He trains more fitness. He amends his play style to maximise performance. He's realistic about his limitations but refuses to let them hold him back.Dylan agrees with the saying "You either win, or you learn." But he adds his own twist.

"I can also win and learn at the same time. So why not both?"

After a defeat, he reflects. He looks at what he can do better and works on it. He's not someone who dwells—he acts.

When asked what areas made the biggest difference in his development, Dylan points to two things: fitness and shot selection. "In advanced level, everyone can play good tennis. The difference is their shot selection. Are they going for the fancy shots which they may feel good but loses the match, or play something mundane but win?"

Fitness, too, is crucial. "You may be able to play great tennis, but you can only last for a set. Still useless." So he works hard on both. He grinds. He runs. He chooses the smart shot over the pretty one.

Dylan's advice to his younger self is tactical and practical. "Pay more attention to your opponent. There are two ways to win a match. First, your weapon is greater than your opponent's. Second, exploit your opponent's weakness. Do something they are not comfortable with." His message? If the first way doesn't work, don't be stubborn. Try another way.

Ask Dylan what he sees in the mirror on the morning of the SCAA Open final, and his answer is simple. "Calmness. Go through my game plan in my head and execute it." No panic. No self-doubt. Just quiet preparation. Dylan has always believed he's a genuine challenger. He never doubted it. "I always think I'm a genuine challenger. I mean, if you are not confident, don't believe in yourself, why bother to compete?" It's a refreshingly direct attitude. He doesn't wait for validation from others. He validates himself.

Transitioning from underdog to contender comes with more pressure. Dylan feels it. But he embraces it. "In Nadal's words, 'pressure is privilege.' I like this kind of pressure. It pushes me more. Pressure and competing in tennis is kind of a package deal. If you don't feel pressure, it means you don't really care. "For Dylan, pressure isn't something to avoid. It's something to welcome.

The Next Goal

Dylan's immediate goal is clear: break into the top 10 in Hong Kong. "That's my goal so far. When I achieve that, I will set a higher goal. But so far, top 10 first." It's a target that matches his personality. Ambitious but grounded. Big but achievable.

The 2026 SCAA Open awaits. And Dylan Kam is ready to prove that he belongs.

This is the eighth feature in the SCAA Open Challengers series, profiling the athletes who define Hong Kong tennis.

This SCAA Open Challengers series is brought to you by 御藥堂, Shun Hing Group, HEAD, Set Win Group, Linkers CPA Limited, POI Corporation Limited, Titoni, SmartShots, Watson's, Gym Aesthetics GA, 奇華餅家, 甘棠燒鹅,儲存易迷你倉, Next Gen, TennisAsia, TNCL Total Nutrition Center Ltd, Little Apple Education Group Limited, Check Check Sin, ESG School HK, Wonder Mami, Eventist, Pones, 蒲昌酒庄. Wondermami.