The ITA Men’s National Team Indoor Championship provided a stage for several players with family ties to former and current tour professionals. Over the five-day event played in Waco and Dallas, seven rostered players across the 16 schools had a parent or relative who competed on the ATP or WTA Tours.

Ohio State junior Bryce Nakashima, the younger brother of ATP world No. 29 Brandon Nakashima, was embroiled in a third-set battle at the No. 5 singles position while his teammate Preston Stearns, a redshirt junior and the younger brother of WTA world No. 58 Peyton Stearns, was attempting to keep the Buckeyes’ hopes alive in the No. 2 match. Preston lost and Texas captured the national team indoor title 4-2.

On opening day at SMU, former doubles partners Lindsay Davenport and Mary Joe Fernandez watched their sons make a winning debut together. “It was super exciting to see Nico and Jagger playing together and for me to have Lindsay—who was my best friend while playing and we were doubles partners, to now watch our sons, who are three years apart, to play on the same team is a little surreal,” said Fernandez, who won the 1996 Roland Garros doubles title along with five other titles with Davenport.

Fernandez added, “My sister even called me and was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I was watching on the live stream. You guys have kids on the same team now and they’re playing doubles together.; She took a picture of the screen and said, ‘This is amazing.’ It’s very cool and nice to see.” Their sons, Nico Godsick and Jagger Leach, clinched the doubles point against Arizona State. Jagger’s father, Jon Leach, who also had a brief pro career, was present.

Baylor senior Luc Koenig, son of former ATP doubles pro Robbie Koenig, delivered a crucial No. 5 singles victory that helped the Bears upset top seed Wake Forest 4-3 and reach the semifinals. Arizona State senior Shu Matsuoka, who transferred after three seasons at Middle Tennessee, is the son of former world No. 46 Shuzo Matsuoka.

“There are a lot of former professionals who now have children playing and it’s great to see,” said Fernandez. “I love that college tennis is now such a good platform and steppingstone into pro tennis.”