Sophie Tong and Tiana Nguyen Leading Charge for Next
Generation of Officials in Southern California

For best friends Sophie Tong and Tiana Nguyen, tennis has been part of their story for as long as they can remember. What began as childhood lessons on local Orange County courts has evolved into nearly a decade of playing, and now, something even more meaningful: officiating.

Over the past few years, now both college freshmen, Sophie at UC Irvine and Tiana at Chapman University, have taken the next step in their tennis journeys, becoming two of the youngest certified USTA officials in the Southern California section.

In honor of USTA Officiating Appreciation Week (November 16-22), USTA Southern California is proud to highlight individuals like Sophie and Tiana, remarkable young leaders who exemplify sportsmanship, selflessness, and a commitment to giving back. Their efforts continue to inspire and open doors for the next generation of officials, especially young women. 

Early Days on Court

Both credit their families, particularly their fathers, for sparking their love for tennis, whose early encouragement helped shape the friendship and passion they share today.

“Growing up, my dad loved playing tennis whenever he had the chance,” Sophie recalled. “When I was around six or seven years old, he enrolled me in tennis lessons, and that’s how I first got started.”

Tiana remembers similar beginnings. “My earliest memories in tennis are training at Los Cab Sports Village when I was around six or seven. My dad was a huge fan and used to play when he was younger, so he encouraged me to play as well.”

Both took breaks from competing over the years, yet tennis always found its way back into their lives. For Sophie, her passion reignited in high school—the very place where she and Tiana would eventually cross paths. Although they both grew up in Orange County, it wasn’t until joining the La Quinta High School team that they connected, going on to play together all four years.

Beginnings in Officiating

Their introduction to officiating came during their sophomore years in high school. Sophie became certified just weeks before her 16th birthday, encouraged by her family connections, and soon inspired Tiana to follow suit, providing them with another way to spend time together while contributing to the sport they love.

“I was the first to take the step into the world of officiating when my cousin Albert Ton asked me to help out at the tournament desk in October 2022,” said Sophie. “From there, I had the chance to observe other officials and learn little by little through them. I didn’t obtain my certification until May 2023, and that’s around the same time I encouraged Tiana to become an official as well. She was certified later that summer in July.” 

“With a passion for the sport, I already knew that becoming an official was the right job for me,” Tiana added. 

First Matches and Learning Experiences

Thrown into live match action not long after certification, both Sophie and Tiana began officiating tournaments and learned quickly through hands-on practice. Though nervous, they soon discovered the rewards of taking responsibility on the court.

“During my first match as an official, I had to overrule a player three times, and I was very nervous,” Sophie shared. “Luckily, Sandra Bowerbank was there to help me and keep me on the right track.”

Tiana recalls a similar experience. “My very first match as an official was a junior circuit at Fountain Valley High School with Harshul Patel. I remember being nervous, but many of the juniors in the circuit were also new to playing tournaments,” she mentioned. “It was their first time playing in a tournament, just as it was my first time officiating in one, and in a way that reassured me.” 

Skills, Connections, and Friendship

Officiating has taught them invaluable life skills—decision-making, time management, collaboration, and independence—while connecting them with hundreds of players, coaches, tournament directors, and fellow officials. Along the way, they’ve built a strong network of mentorship and shared passion within the community, learning from some of the game’s most knowledgeable figures.

The role has also deepened their friendship, as long hours together at tournaments and events has allowed them to bond over the challenges and triumphs of officiating. Leaning on one another during matches has provided the support and reassurance needed to succeed, while reflecting on their experiences afterward helps them grow.

“It’s amazing to have Tiana by my side because she is going through the same thing as I am. I can always ask her questions and tell her about my day, which definitely makes things less stressful,” stated Sophie. “Officiating together has strengthened our friendship because whenever we get assigned to work together, we often carpool and get dinner at night. We get to learn through each other’s problems and mistakes on court and reflect on it at the end of the day.” 

“Having Sophie with me while at work is always a good time, knowing that I have someone to talk to and who understands what happens on the court with me. We work well together, and I love that I can count on her anytime,” added Tiana. 

Mentors, Influences and Lessons Learned 

Despite their age, Sophie and Tiana have shown a strong eagerness to learn from experienced officials and continuously improve their craft. From the very beginning, both sought guidance and mentorship to navigate the challenges of officiating and develop their skills on and off the court.

For Sophie, coming from a family of six officials with experience on some of tennis’s grandest stages has provided a strong foundation of support. “My cousin, Albert, and my uncle, Tan Ton, have been my biggest mentors since day one. They’ve guided me through every step of the officiating process, helping me get certified, offering advice, and always being there to answer my questions,” she said.

Tiana, meanwhile, found guidance from seasoned officials within the broader tennis community. “When I first started, Jill Cosgrove and Laurel Smith were my biggest mentors, and they really helped me out in the beginning to become a better official. Their support from the start means a lot to me and encouraged me to pursue officiating further,” she added.

Through their experiences on court, Sophie and Tiana have discovered that mistakes are inevitable in a job that relies on intuition and split-second decisions, and often the most valuable part of learning to officiate. By observing experienced officials and learning by doing, they have embraced the mindset that mistakes, whether in officiating or in life, are not setbacks but opportunities to reflect, adapt, and improve. Sophie has learned to approach challenges with resilience and patience, recognizing that even seasoned officials continue to grow through experience. Similarly, Tiana sees each mistake as a stepping stone in developing her confidence, judgment, and decision-making skills.

Rewards and Reflections

While continuing to grow as individuals, officiating has given Sophie and Tiana the chance to contribute to the tennis community in meaningful ways while taking on increased responsibility. By leading through example, both signify the importance of increasing representation in the sport.

“The most rewarding part of my job is being able to contribute to the sport I love from a different perspective. I also really enjoy meeting other officials and learning about what inspired them to start officiating. It’s very important to have more young officials, especially young women, because greater representation strengthens the tennis community and makes it more inclusive,” mentioned Sophie.

“The most rewarding part of officiating is being able to contribute to a community of a sport that I already love so much. Tennis teaches young kids valuable virtues like discipline and good sportsmanship, and watching them develop that as an official gives me a deeper appreciation for the sport,” Tiana said.

Looking ahead, both have ambitious goals. Sophie hopes to one day officiate on television, whether as a line judge or chair umpire, and plans to graduate, build a career, and travel the world. Tiana hopes to officiate at the US Open and is pursuing a path toward medical school to study psychiatry after graduation.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Committed to growing the game, Sophie and Tiana are passionate about encouraging other teens, particularly young women, to explore officiating as a way to give back to the sport they love. They recognize that representation matters and hope their experiences can inspire others to take the leap.

Sophie reflected on the early challenges and rewards of getting involved from her own experience: “What surprised me the most at the beginning was the lack of younger officials. However, over time I have noticed more interest from younger people getting involved, which is really encouraging to see. You should definitely give it a shot, especially if you already have tennis experience. Most tournaments take place on weekends, so it’s very possible to balance school and work at the same time.”

Tiana echoed this sentiment, highlighting the personal and professional benefits of officiating: “If you’re interested in becoming an official, you should definitely go for it! Officiating is a fulfilling job, knowing that you are not just contributing to the community, but you are also helping young players play to their fullest by being there for them. I’m glad I became an official, given that it’s also a flexible job that you can work around your schedule.”

Become an Official Today

In Southern California, there are endless opportunities for those interested in officiating. If you, a family member, or someone you know is interested in becoming an official, visit the officiating tab on the USTA Southern California website, or fill out the officiating interest form to get started and join the next generation of leaders giving back to the sport.