First junior rivals and then college teammates and roommates at UC-Irvine, Bruce Man-Son-Hing and Rob Hinkel have had their share of similar health issues over the past few years. But out of those struggles has come a lifelong bond that will never be broken.

It was Hinkel who was first diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer at the end of 2020 that would eventually lead to seven weeks of intense chemotherapy and radiation treatment. The diagnosis led Hinkel to encourage all his family and friends to get their annual checkups and to know their stats and PSA numbers.

In October of 2021, Man-Son-Hing was notified that his PSA numbers were a little high. At the urging of his brother, who is a physician, he saw a urologist who ordered a biopsy and discovered traces of cancer. Unlike Hinkel, Man-Son-Hing chose not to have his prostate removed but instead elected for 28 treatments of Proton Therapy treatment to remove the cancer. 

“We had two different paths,” Hinkel said. “He could have taken the route that I had to take and have the surgery to have it removed. [Our friendship] is a different bond now and we both know how important some things are. We don’t take life for granted and really enjoy the conversations. It’s a tight bond that way.”

As February 4th is recognized as World Cancer Day, both Man-Son-Hing and Hinkel are mindful of this day and being cancer free as both are in full remission from their prostate cancer. 

“We went through it together,” Man-Son-Hing said. “I really admire him and how positive Rob was the entire time. We check in with each other every three or four days, just to see how the other is doing.”

The 62-year-old Hinkel grew up in Silver Lake and recalled recently the first time he met his pal Bruce, who was from nearby Glendale.

“He had these really thick glasses and a slice backhand that was really good,” said Hinkel, a longtime Newport Beach resident who learned the game at the lower Griffth Park courts. “We played many, many times as kids, but we weren’t really friends at that time because playing junior tennis is kind of kill, kill, kill. We had some pretty testy battles.”

Man-Son-Hing recalls he was eager to practice with Hinkel as young juniors, but joked that, “Rob always had an excuse and we never did.” 

Hinkel spent a year at UCLA saying he thought he was a little better player than he was at the time. He walked on at UCLA where legendary coach Glenn Bassett told him he already had his team formed. It was in a match against UC-Irvine that coach Greg Patton invited him to come south and play the next year for the Anteaters and that’s exactly what Hinkel did.

Two years younger than Hinkel but just one year apart in school, the 60-year-old Man-Son-Hing and Hinkel joined the UC-Irvine team at the same time and the two played some doubles together and then became roommate the following three years.

“That is when our friendship blossomed,” said Hinkel, adding the two enjoyed their 20s skiing together, going on double dates and playing tournaments. “Just doing a bunch of goofy stuff and our friendship got deeper and deeper.” 

They were in each other’s weddings and began raising their children around the same time. They remained close friends and started playing national tournaments together around 2010 after Hinkel picked up the game again after more than 20 years away from it.

Man-Son-Hing played on the ATP Tour from 1986-1990 and won rounds at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open with partner John Letts. In 2012, they teamed up to win the ITF Seniors World Championship in doubles over 45s.

Right in the middle of the COIVD crisis, the cancer news hit both of them. “We compared a lot of notes,” Hinkel said. “It really changes your life.”

Man-Son-Hing’s cancer battle was not as severe as Hinkel’s and he remained active on the court. A longtime world-class age-group player, Man-Son-Hing is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation in doubles in the 60s, and No. 1 in the Father-Son with his son Bruce Jr., who played for UC-Irvine where his father served as the volunteer assistant coach.

Recently, the Man-Son-Hings and Rob and his son Jonathan – a freshman playing at Irvine Valley College – traveled to Florida and played in the USTA Father-Son Nationals with the Bruce’s winning the gold ball and the Hinkels taking the back draw.

Rob has two years of undetectable cancer. “The longer I go, the better,” Hinkel said. “Every time we go in to get tested we both get nervous. We’re going through this together and there’s a different bond now.

“It really changes your perspective. It makes you realize how important some things are, and how unimportant some things are. You take the time, and you  don’t call later, you do it right now. Don’t let it hang. Don’t hesitate calling mom. Call mom.”