Businessman Henry “Hanky” Lee and his partner Randy Villanueva were up against the stronger pair of Mario Sabas and Rolando Ruel Jr., both ranked No. 3, in a major tennis tournament in 2003.
The game left both sides huffing and puffing. But the combination of strategy and intensity propelled Lee and Villanueva to upset their opponents.
“They were a bit sluggish,” recalls Lee. The victory led them to be ranked No. 16 in 2004. “That game was a breakthrough for us,” he says.
Back then, Lee co-owned Yellow Cab Pizza. Nearly a decade later, he reinvented himself as a hotelier. When he’s not looking for hotels to acquire or overseeing The Henry Manila and Cebu, the chair of Innovotera Properties hits balls across the net or supports his advocacy, the Philippine Tennis Academy (PTA).
“People know me as the doubles specialist. I’m proud of my strong volleys. In doubles, you have to attack the net to win. That’s when the volleys are important,” says Lee.
Tennis outdoes golf, skating and other sports in building up constructive personality traits, says Dr. Jim Gavin, author of “The Exercise Habit.” Likewise, tennis players got higher marks than other athletes for vitality, positivism and confidence than other athletes in a study conducted by Southern Connecticut State University, while scoring lower in depression, anger, confusion, anxiety and tension.
“My learnings in tennis are applicable to life and business,” says Lee. “If you want to move forward in tennis, you need commitment, tenacity and diligence. When the chips are down, you hold on, give all you’ve got and play point by point. Most likely, you will win because you hung in there.”
Lee cultivated discipline in tennis in his youth. The whole family, including his grandparents, played the sport on the court of the family compound. Growing up, he would immerse himself at the Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) courts, once known as the “Wimbledon of the Philippines.” In college, he was a member of the Ateneo tennis varsity team.
Tournament rounds
Back in the ’80s and early ’90s, cross-training was not as popular as it is today. “In college, everybody took to basketball. To improve, I played with stronger tennis players. It takes hard work to be where they are at that level,” said Lee.
At one time, he was a tennis journeyman, becoming a member of several clubs. He did the tournament rounds at the Manila Polo Club, Valle Verde Country Club, Makati Sports Club, Quezon City Sports Club and the PCA.
“I love the competition. It makes me feel alive, especially when you try to turn the tide to win,” says Lee.
He uses the Babolat Pure Drive racquet, the same model used by Rafa Nadal. “It adds an extra pop to your strokes. I also find it easy to rally with this racquet.”
He explains that the racquet’s technology enables him to make more powerful serves, and he hits with more strength and spin.
Although he’s a Class A player, the forty-something Lee finds himself slowing down. “I’m maturing, and there is this thing as tennis burnout.”
What’s his advice to a novice?
“Get a good coach. Fundamentals are important. You need to master the proper strokes, return the ball, place the ball, play the points, and the rest will follow. Strategy is important. It’s not just returning the ball, but determining which side of the court to send the ball to.”
Lee is a patron of the PTA, which was founded by entrepreneurs/athletes Jean Henri Lhuillier and Rommy Chan.
“There has been a dearth of world-class talents in the Philippines. Our aim is to find them and train them. There is a social component. We develop the less-privileged players,” explains Lee. “The approach is holistic. Aside from teaching tennis skills and buying racquets and uniforms, we assist in their schooling, provide proper diet and other cross-training like running and weight resistance. It’s our way of giving back to a sport that has been good to us.”