Celebrating Hispanic Heritage: Eduardo Gonzalez’s
Journey On and Off the Court

From the Palm Desert courts to the University of California, Davis halls, Eduardo Gonzalez brings resilience, drive, and heart to his tennis and life. With a competitive yet kind spirit, he stands out—not only as an athlete but also as a proud advocate of his Hispanic roots. 

As Hispanic Heritage Month begins, we celebrate Eduardo’s accomplishments and how he embraces his heritage on and off the court.  

Childhood Roots

Eduardo’s family came to the United States from Mexico about 20 years ago. His father landed a job in Palm Desert, which prompted them to move to the States. He grew up in a very tennis-oriented family that has been passed down for generations. 

“It all started with my grandfather. He played a lot of tournaments in Mexico and taught my father, who played college tennis in Mexico and eventually taught me how to play. I’m pretty proud of where we come from and my roots have always been a big part of who I am,” says Eduardo. 

From an early age, Eduardo displayed an interest for the sport: “I started playing at three years old—as soon as I could start picking up a racquet. My dad was a teaching professional at the time, and when I was one, he would have me sit in his tennis basket and mess around with the racquet. I loved the idea of being on the court.”

He reflects on the generations of family tennis players that came before him and the deep connection it brings to their family.

“I feel very connected to tennis through my family. It gives me a sense of responsibility to keep moving forward and carry the legacy of tennis for future generations,” exclaims Eduardo.

Rafa Mentality

In his formative years, Eduardo developed a natural ability for the sport, spending countless hours on the court, honing his skills, and meeting new friends.

Diego Castillo, a fellow USTA Southern California tennis player and recent graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), has known Eduardo for more than 12 years. The two first met at a local tennis tournament in Palm Desert and have since grown into close friends, competing alongside each other over the years. When asked about Eduardo’s work ethic, Diego is quick to praise him for his discipline and drive.

“Eduardo has that Rafa [Nadal] mentality,” says Diego. “He competes super hard and is going to give you everything he’s got every point. No one is going to say ‘no’ to him. Growing up, he pushed me as a player, always inspiring me to improve my own game.”

But it’s his personality off the court that Diego truly admires.

“He’s incredibly kind and humble. He has the ability to be competitive on court, but as soon as the match is over, he’s someone you want to be friends with. I admire the way he carries himself both on and off the court,” says Diego. 

Desert Upbringing

Eduardo’s ‘Rafa mentality’ was on full display during his high school tennis career at Palm Desert High School. Due to COVID-19, there was no tennis team during his freshman and sophomore years. However, his junior year made up for it, boasting an impressive 26-1 record for the Aztecs and finishing first in the league for singles. He was also named Team MVP, Desert Empire League Singles Champion, and CIF singles semifinalist. It was here that Eduardo realized that “while tennis may be an individual sport at times, being a part of a team inspired me to want to play college tennis.” 

During his years as a junior player, Eduardo was equally successful, playing tournaments throughout Southern California. His favorite moment was winning the Boys’ 12 and under USTA Mary Brymer Memorial Junior Tennis Tournament (Level 2) in 2017, followed by going undefeated at Zonals in Arizona—a competition between teams of elite Southern juniors.

“I ended up on this huge winning streak, so that was probably the best two weeks of my junior career,” Eduardo proudly exclaims. 

Eduardo’s achievements are just as notable off the court, graduating Summa Cum Laude from high school in 2023 with a 4.4 GPA and earning himself a spot on the Palm Desert Honor Roll. Eduardo largely attributes his success to his parents. 

“My hard-working parents have taught me to always stay dedicated to my studies as well as my tennis. Being in a sport teaches you to value your time.”

Wilson Commercial

One of Eduardo’s most exciting moments on court—and always a conversation starter—was when he was asked to be included in a Wilson commercial featuring Juan Martin Del Potro. The commercial was filmed right before the start of the BNP Paribas Open, and the producer needed someone to hit with Juan for the commercial. 

“I think I was eleven years old at the time with big dreams to be up close to the pros. Juan was so nice and spoke Spanish to me. He gave me great advice as a tennis player and treated me with a lot of kindness,” Eduardo recalls.

Hitting with the Pros in SoCal

In 2023, Eduardo’s talent reached new heights when he was asked to be a hitting partner for the pros at the BNP Paribas Open. The qualification process is no small feat, as not everyone receives the opportunity to hit with the world’s best. After submitting a video of himself playing, along with his junior tennis ranking and coaches recommendations, Eduardo was approved to be on the list. 

“Overall, the experience was really cool. Being able to hit with players on the WTA and ATP tours brought me closer to the scene. The players gave me a lot of tips and acted like mentors for me.” 

Of course, tennis is an international sport with players who speak multiple languages. From hitting with players like Amanda Anisimova, Danka Kovinic, Mikael Ymer, and Caroline Garcia, Eduardo has had the unique opportunity to play with professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds. Eduardo, who’s fluent in English and Spanish, says his ability to speak two languages has helped him communicate with players like Garcia, who he hit with in 2022. 

“Hitting with Garcia was really cool because it was the first time where I felt like there’s other pros and coaches who speak Spanish. It was great to be able to speak to them in a different language, and it definitely made it easier for them to communicate,” recalls Eduardo. 

College Experience at UC Davis

Now a junior at UC Davis, Eduardo says he chose the college because of the strong balance of academics and athletics.

“UC Davis has great resources to support my path towards studying medicine. The tennis team culture and coaching staff also stood out to me. I loved the environment overall,” says Eduardo.

Eric Steidlmayer, Head Coach of the UC Davis Men’s Tennis Team and a UC San Diego alum who once led their program, saw more than just talent in Eduardo. He says he signed him not only because he’s a great athlete, but also because of his character. The two first met when UC Davis was playing against the College of the Desert (COD) in Palm Desert. After Eric spoke to COD Head Coach Guy Fritz—father of top ATP American player Taylor Fritz from Rancho Santa Fe—and following Eduardo’s success in the juniors, Eric knew he had a great recruit on his hands. 

“He’s a genuine kid, a great teammate, and a tough competitor. We thought he’d impact our program [when we signed him], and we still think he’s going to impact it massively in the coming years.” 

Eric continues, praising him for his diligence and hard-working attitude both on and off the court: “To me, he’s ernest and really wants to do well for himself. He’s just a really good kid who does it all.”

By “all,” Eric is referring to Eduardo’s rigorous schedule as a Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior major. And while balancing pre-med studies and Division I tennis can be challenging, Eduardo leans on his team to stay diligent and make good use of his time. 

“My teammates are very supportive, pushing each other to improve every day on and off the court while still having fun. That’s what I was looking for when I was choosing a college, and UC Davis has been great. We’re a very close knit group,” says Eduardo.

A Transformative Internship with the Hispanic Community

While tennis plays a huge role in his life, Eduardo is eager to share his life-changing internship experience last summer with Health Career Connection—an organization that connects health sectors with talented future health professionals and leaders. There, he had the opportunity to work on mental health awareness within an underresourced Hispanic community in Coachella, advocating for them and guiding them towards higher education and mental health resources. And because he’s fluent in Spanish, he was able to communicate with the immigrant families to help bridge the language gap.

“I worked with several Hispanic high school students during my internship whose families didn’t fully understand the college application process. I helped them with applications, essays, and financial aid, and supported many through mental health challenges common in underserved communities,” Eduardo explains. “I also led mental health workshops, where I shared valuable tips and became someone they could look up to.”

During his internship, Eduardo also had the unique opportunity at the United States Capitol to advocate for bills aimed at bridging these gaps in order to better support students in these communities. “I even met with the Head Assistant for the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, which was a very cool and powerful experience,” Eduardo exclaims. 

“This experience for sure shaped my vision for the future. It made me realize how much I want to give back, not just by becoming a doctor, but by helping families better understand and access care. Knowing how expensive medical bills can be, I’m motivated to make healthcare more accessible and supportive for these underserved communities,” he says.

Future Aspirations

As for his future, Eduardo is excited about attending medical school after graduating while playing tennis in his spare time. And one thing’s for sure, he’ll bring his cultural roots, tenacious drive, and humble spirit wherever he goes next.