A sport fostering familial bonds and community, tennis has united people since its inception. In Southern California, one family from Fountain Valley, the Ton family, has embraced tennis not only as players but also as officials, becoming familiar faces in the SoCal tennis community.

Among them, Albert Ton, then a high school student, was the first to discover his passion for officiating. In 2016, after his sophomore year at Fountain Valley High School, one of his coaches recommended officiating to him, a pursuit he himself enjoyed. Seeking a summer job, Albert eagerly embraced the role, seeing it as an ideal way to remain involved in the sport he loved.

“Albert was the first to become an official,” shared Sophie Tong. “He had asked a lot of his friends and family members to officiate as well.” 

Albert indeed enlisted friends and family to officiate. Currently, six members of his family are certified USTA officials: Albert (23), his father Tan Ton (55), cousin Brian Ton (20), brother Alan Ton (19), cousin Donald Ton (18), and cousin Sophie Tong (16).

In his first year officiating, Albert broke into the scene and immediately climbed the ranks, eventually working the Women’s PAC-12 Championship final that following spring. Now coming up on his eighth year officiating, Albert’s time has been nothing short of success. Currently focusing on primarily junior and collegiate officiating within USTA, Albert has had the opportunity to work multiple high-level events over his career, including 3 U.S. Opens all by the age of 20. Graduating from UC Berkeley in 2019 with a degree in Cognitive Science and Computer Science, Albert hasn’t skipped a beat with officiating, all the while maintaining the workload of a full-time job. 

Following Albert onto the courts was his cousin Brian, who became the second Ton family member to pursue officiating in 2018. Encouraged by Albert and drawn by his shared passion for tennis and a desire to strengthen family ties, Brian swiftly advanced within the role. He found himself officiating collegiate tennis matches in SoCal and beyond, relishing the intense thrill and unique team-based atmospheres.

“I got into officiating after playing high school tennis for two years as a hobby and to spend more time with my cousin, Albert,” stated Brian. “I started at local junior tournaments and quickly climbed the ranks to Division 1 college matches for their intense thrill and unique team-based atmospheres in our traditionally individualistic sport. In my senior year of high school, I umpired at the season-commencing ITA Kickoff Weekend and end-of-season NCAA championships, which have been the most exciting & electric moments of my officiating career.” 

Through officiating, even more opportunities came knocking for Brian, who a few years after starting the job, enrolled at UCLA. Now in his third year as a Bruin, studying data science and mathematics, Brian finds his passion for tennis and academics converging in Westwood.

“I was able to meet a handful of college coaches at the NCAA Championships and Kickoff Weekend events. This ultimately gave me the opportunity to work as the Director of Operations for the UCLA Men’s Tennis team alongside Head Coach Billy Martin during my freshman year of college, where I met many incredible individuals and some of my best friends today.”

Taking after the likes of his family just three years ago was Alan Ton, who is possibly the most proficient player among his family members. The 5-star recruit and now college freshman, Alan currently attends the United States Military Academy at Westpoint, where he is a cadet and plays Division 1 tennis for the Army. 

“My brother, Alan, started in 2021 when he was 16,” Albert said. “He officiated both USTA and collegiate events and before he left for school last June, we were able to work together at the NCAA men’s and women’s Super Regional at Michigan.”

Joining these three around the same time would be Donald, who took up officiating in large part due to the inspiration of his family. Donald’s love of officiating has grown throughout the years, with his main enjoyment coming from the responsibility he holds as well as the value he can provide for players. 

“The thing I enjoy most about being a tennis official is the chance to be right at the heart of the action, ensuring a fair and smooth game,” Donald stated. “It’s incredibly rewarding to witness the athleticism and strategic battles unfold on the court from such a close vantage point. Using my knowledge of the rules and keeping a watchful eye over every call adds a layer of focus that keeps me engaged. There’s also a sense of responsibility in maintaining order and ensuring sportsmanship. Ultimately, I find satisfaction in knowing that my calls contribute to a positive experience for both players and the audience.”

Family means everything to the Ton family, especially Donald, who greatly looks up to his older brother and two older cousins. 

“Family holds immense significance for me. Not only have they been my source of inspiration for excelling in tennis and taking on the role of an umpire, but they’ve also motivated me to strive for personal growth both on and off the court, as well as in academic pursuits,” added Donald. “In our family, academic excellence is paramount.”

The soon to be high school graduate, Donald is excited to follow in the footsteps of his cousin Albert by attending UC Berkeley this fall. 

Although Albert was the first to become involved with officiating, none of this would have been possible without the person that introduced him to the sport in the first place, his father. Forged by the bonds he had created with the children on the court when they were young, Tan’s lifelong passion for tennis turned into one for officiating. 

“Growing up, our dad would always play tennis. He would take my brother and I out to local high schools to practice and hit on the ball machine,” Albert mentioned. “He also was our coach for most of our childhood, until we got in middle school and high school. He started officiating in 2022 because he needed to stay busy after Alan and I had left for college. We began hosting tournaments at Fountain Valley Tennis Center in 2021, and he had begun helping out as a tournament desk person for our events. We persuaded him to become an official, and he began officiating in 2022. This year was his first full collegiate season.”

Rounding out the group of officials in the family is Sophie Tong, who is the most recent of which to start the position. The now highschooler, Sophie’s journey in officiating began a year ago as she rekindled a flame for a sport that she has been around her whole life. 

“It wasn’t until I was around 8 years old that I started playing tennis. I stopped playing after just a few years, but rediscovered love for the sport when I entered high school,” Sophie expressed. “Being surrounded by my cousins, aunts, and uncles who are passionate about the sport, I got a lot of exposure to tennis. Through the help of Albert, I had started gaining experience officiating at the age of 15. I first helped out at the front desk, but quickly became an official just a few weeks before my 16th birthday.”

For the Ton family, tennis serves not only as a platform for competition and physical activity, but more importantly provides a shared space where they can spend quality time together.

“Our lives are intertwined around tennis. Tennis always meant family time, whether it was a practice after school when we were growing up or making the drive to Santa Barbara to work a match together. Tennis means we get to do what we love together, on and off the court – and the work we do has been so incredibly rewarding because of it,” said Albert. 

“For our family, tennis is a lifestyle. To be part of our family means embracing the game both on and off the court. It’s not just about the competition; it’s about the camaraderie, the discipline, and the joy of playing together. Tennis has woven itself into the fabric of our family, shaping our weekends, vacations, and even our conversations. It’s a passion we share, a bond that strengthens with every match played and every point won or lost. Tennis isn’t just a sport for us; it’s a way of life,” commented Donald. 

Advising those who are interested in becoming an official themselves, the Ton family delves into the immense value the position brings, while highlighting the importance of sharing the position with the ones you care about. 

“Highschoolers and college students should consider this as a job, especially if you have experience playing. Ask your friends to become an official as well so that you can always have someone to talk to and learn with. In an environment where you are working with older and more experienced officials, they will help you fill in your tennis knowledge gap as well as insights into life,” Sophie denoted. 

“Do it with the people you love. Officiating has been particularly rewarding to me as I’m able to spend time with my family and friends. You get to have so much fun, you get to see incredible tennis, and you get to be with the people you love,” added Albert. 

The Ton family’s story is a testament to the enduring bonds forged through the love of tennis. From Albert’s pioneering efforts to the collective involvement of his family, their journey embodies passion, connection and the profound impact of familial support. As they continue to champion the spirit of fairness, sportsmanship and camaraderie on and off the court, the Ton family reminds us that in tennis, as in life, the greatest victories are often measured not in points scored or matches won, but in the moments shared with those we hold close. 

With thirteen areas providing thousands of matches being played each year, there are endless possibilities for those interested to get involved in officiating within Southern California. If you, a family member, or someone you know may be interested in becoming an official, please check out this link to help you get started!