A conversation with Alex Lau Tsz-kwan, Hong Kong’s top-ranked men’s squash player, resembles a dialogue with a profound thinker or even a philosopher. The 28-year-old has dedicated 22 years of his life to the sport that propelled him to the top 50 in the world. According to Lau, a two-time Hong Kong champion, most of his achievements in this now-Olympic discipline can be attributed to his mental fortitude.
“Firstly, it’s learning how to live with failure, and then it’s persistence and the way I think,” Lau explains. “Squash, to me personally, is a strategic game, a battle of wits.”
Lau equates the sport to chess, emphasizing the need for quick thinking and the ability to anticipate an opponent’s moves. “Like chess, but you have to think of countermeasures lightning-fast. Does your opponent react in an expected manner? If not, how quickly can you adjust your strategy?”
Growing up in Yuen Long and struggling with his academic performance, Lau has come a long way since joining the Hong Kong Sports Institute at the age of 16. Now ranked 48th in the world and preparing for the World Championships in Cairo next month, Lau acknowledges the lessons he has learned over the past decade.
“One can’t be complacent because who on the tour hasn’t won a match or two?” he says. “Even the world No.1 is constantly improving; complacency will quickly catch up with you.”
Lau is a strong advocate for learning from others, regardless of their ranking. “I dislike the feeling of looking down on others – even a player at No.500 will always be better than me in some aspect, so I make a conscious effort to learn from various players.”
“I’ll happily sit and observe them doing repetitive exercises for 10 or 15 minutes. I soak it all in, add my own touch, and personalize it. That’s my ideal game plan.”
However, putting this theory into practice was not always straightforward. Lau faced his darkest days when he narrowly missed out on a spot in the Asian Games squad due to, as he admits, complacency.
“I had just won an international title in Cairns and was in peak physical condition,” he recalls. “But I performed poorly at the selection tournament in Hong Kong and lost to almost everyone.”
“At 23, I was still naive and immature; it was a painful lesson because the Games only happen every four years. So, I was extremely relieved to automatically qualify for the next squad.”
Despite his success, Lau’s journey at the Hangzhou Games was bittersweet. While he secured a team medal, he was disappointed to miss out on an individual podium spot as a top-four seed.
“I lost in the men’s individual quarter-finals to teammate Henry [Leung Chi-hin],” he says. “Obviously, you want to win those missing medals.”
“And could we perhaps upgrade our team bronze to a different color? The 2026 Nagoya Games is a major motivator for me. And then there’s the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles – will my body still be up to it at 32?”
Lau believes he has at least four more years of competitive squash in him, but he recognizes the need to evolve and adapt to stay ahead of the younger generation.
One thing he refuses to compromise on, however, is his “unorthodox, risky, and creative” approach on the court.
“It’s what I do best; it wasn’t intentional, but I use my hand to express my thoughts at that particular moment,” Lau says. “The most enjoyable aspect of squash for me is the ability to hit the ball exactly as I envision.”
“As much as results matter, sportsmanship and the ability to execute my plan on the court are even more important.”
Lau hopes to use his experience and technique to limit his opponents’ choices, allowing him to conserve energy on the court.
After breaking into the top 50 more than two years ago, Lau has maintained his position and reached a career-high of No.41 last year. His next goal is to crack the top 35 by the end of next season and eventually emulate Max Lee Ho-yin, a retired Hong Kong squash legend who achieved a world ranking of 12 during his illustrious career.