The Family Advantage: How USTA Adult Leagues
Brought This Father-Daughter Duo Closer

For Kennett Lai and his daughter, Ashleen, Father’s Day isn’t celebrated around a backyard barbecue or on a phone call. It’s celebrated on a 78 foot stretch of asphalt clay or grass — a tennis court.

As staples of the Southern California Adult League circuit, the San Diego North County father-daughter duo has turned tennis into the ultimate family affair. Through years of shared competitive seasons, a mutual love for USTA Leagues, and a highly demanding sideline role handling technology for a squad of self-proclaimed “old guys,” they have built a relationship defined by trust, laughter, and a fierce, unspoken competitive drive.

Redefining the Baseline

Ashleen’s introduction to the sport started a little later than most. She first picked up a racquet in the eighth grade, just before entering high school. 

While her family originates from San Francisco, she grew up in the Inland Empire, trying out different sports until a summer tennis clinic caught her attention. Kennett had played junior varsity tennis in high school but had long since stopped swinging a racquet. When his daughter took an interest, he didn’t push her; he simply stepped up to support.

“Because I played in high school, I wanted her to want to play,” Kennett recalls. “To me, that was more important than anything else. If she wants to play, let her play, and I’ll do everything I can to support her.”

In those early days, support meant continuous dedication, showing up day after day. Kennett accompanied Ashleen to lessons, grabbed the ball hopper, and rolled through the courts collecting stray tennis balls so she could get in a few more reps, and listened closely to her coaches. Later, he would take her to local parks and feed her balls so she could continue working on the same drills.

Years later, that support would evolve into something neither of them expected: a partnership on the adult league courts.

The Commute and the Comeback

The true shift into Adult Leagues came during Ashleen’s senior year at UC San Diego. Kennett had already rediscovered what he jokingly describes as his “obsession” with the sport. Through free weekly clinics and local league play at Andulka Park in Riverside, he found himself drawn back into the sport and embraced by a thriving tennis community. 

Hoping to share the experience with his daughter before graduation and adult life pulled them in different directions Kennett asked a simple question: “Hey, do you want to come play USTA Adult Leagues with me?”

Ashleen didn’t hesitate. She spent her entire senior year commuting from San Diego just to share the court with her dad.

“I enjoy tennis a lot more as an adult,” Ashleen notes. “Growing up, it was more competitive. You want to win, you want to do more with it. As an adult, it’s just about having fun.”

Surviving the “3 Surface” Test

When asked about their favorite shared tennis memories, both immediately pointed to the same event: a legendary, last minute opportunity at the 3 Surface Tournament hosted at Mission Hills Country Club in Palm Desert. Another team pulled out, Kennett and Ashleen were asked to fill the draw on short notice. The unique format required players to compete on hard courts, clay courts, and grass courts throughout the tournament in rapid succession.

Against what Ashleen described as Adult League Sectionals worthy opponents, the duo caught fire. Adapting quickly to three vastly different surfaces, they battled their way through the draw and ultimately won the entire event. The tournament’s most memorable moment, however, had little to do with the trophy. 

“Probably one of my favorite memories is when I went for a ball on the grass and went splat on the court,” Kennett says, laughing. “I don’t think we got the point, but it was fun.” Ashleen seamlessly corroborates the story with a smile.

The pair also reached the finals of the 18 & Over Sectionals together in 2023, a gritty run that ended in a tough loss, but cemented their status as a formidable team. 

When they play doubles together, their shared competitiveness often manifests in a humorous way. “We used to be pretty competitive,” Ashleen says. “It was funny because we would go dead silent on the court because we were trying so hard for each other. We are always supportive, but internally we’d be like, ‘Alright, do better, do better.’”

Managing the “Uncles”

The dynamic has evolved from teammates to co-captains. Today, Ashleen serves as co-captain and technological savant for Kennett’s Redlands 55 & Over league team. 

“Without her, we would be lost,” Kennett admits with a chuckle. “We’re old guys. When it comes to technology we just call for Ashleen and she figures it out in no time for us.”

For Ashleen, logging into the app and setting up line combinations isn’t a chore; it’s a way to hang out with a group of people who have effectively become extended family. “I’m super close with a lot of the guys on the team,” she says. “They’re like uncles to me.”

Kennett notes that the trust goes both ways, adding that if Ashleen ever needed anything, there are three or four guys on that team that would drop everything to come help her.

A Father’s Day Message

For Kennett, USTA Leagues have provided an invaluable forum to watch his daughter excel while keeping himself active. “Ashleen and I talk tennis all the time. We strategize tennis and play on a bunch of teams,” Kennett says. “She got really good. I’m old and I just play, but I get to say I paid for her lessons!”

This Father’s Day, the gratitude flows completely both ways.

When asked what she wants to tell her dad, Ashleen’s answer is instantaneous: “I love him, he’s the best dad in the world and I appreciate all he has done for us.”

As for Kennett, his message back to his co-captain and favorite hitting partner encapsulated the warmth that tennis has brought to their lives:

“You’re great. Thanks for letting me be your dad. Thank you for letting me play tennis with you, even though I’m not that good and I’m really old and I make you work really, really hard. I love you.”

Get Involved Today

For those looking to build lifelong connections, grow the game, and experience the unparalleled community of Southern California tennis, consider captaining or joining a league today! To get started, visit: https://ustasocal.com/adult/leagues.