Lindsay Davenport, Mary Joe Fernandez watch sons win NCAA debut together 30 years after their Roland Garros triumph

DALLAS—As the ITA Men's National Team Indoor Championship on Tuesday at Southern Methodist University (SMU) was nearing its conclusion, there were a couple of family names on court that fans may be familiar with on the ATP and WTA Tours.

Bryce Nakashima, a junior on Ohio State’s tennis team and the younger brother of ATP world No. 29 Brandon Nakashima, was locked in a third-set battle at the No. 5 singles spot. In the other match going on at No. 2, Preston Stearns, the younger brother of WTA world No. 58 Peyton Stearns and a redshirt junior, was trying to keep the Buckeyes’ hopes alive—although he lost and Texas won the national team indoor title 4-2.

During the five-day tournament played in Waco and Dallas, there were seven players on rosters among the 16 schools competing with a family member who were past or present ATP / WTA Tour pros.

On opening day at SMU, former WTA Tour doubles partners Lindsay Davenport and Mary Joe Fernandez were on hand to watch their sons, Jagger Leach and Nico Godsick, respectively, make a successful debut together by clinching the doubles point against Arizona State. Leach’s father, Jon, who also had a brief pro career, was on hand.

“It was super exciting to see Nico and Jagger playing together and for me to have Lindsay—who was my best friend while playing and we were doubles partners, to now watch our sons, who are three years apart, to play on the same team is a little surreal,” said Fernandez, who won the 1996 Roland Garros doubles title along with five other titles with Davenport.

Fernandez said, “My sister even called me and was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I was watching on the live stream. You guys have kids on the same team now and they’re playing doubles together.; She took a picture of the screen and said, ‘This is amazing.’  It’s very cool and nice to see.”

Baylor senior Luc Koenig, son of former ATP Tour doubles pro Robbie Koenig, won a crucial singles match at the No. 5 position to help the Bears defeat top seed Wake Forest 4-3 and advance to the semifinals.

Arizona State senior Shu Matsuoka, who transferred after playing three years at Middle Tennessee, is the son of former world No. 46 Shuzo Matsuoka.

“There are a lot of former professionals who now have children playing and it’s great to see,” said Fernandez. “I love that college tennis is now such a good platform and steppingstone into pro tennis.”

Former world No. 2 and 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic’s son Emanuel, is committed to Wake Forest and is expected to join the Demon Deacons for the 2026 fall season.

Collegiate Player & Family Member(s)

• Julian Alonso (TCU); Father, Julian Alonso
• Nico Godsick (Stanford); Mother, Mary Jo Fernandez
• Luc Koenig (Baylor); Father, Robbie Koenig
• Jagger Leach (Stanford); Mother, Lindsay Davenport; Father, Jon Leach
• Shu Matsuoka (Arizona State); Father, Shuzo Matsuoka
• Bryce Nakashima (Ohio State); Brother, Brandon Nakashima (active)
• Preston Stearns (Ohio State); Sister, Peyton Stearns (active)
• Trevor Svajda (SMU), Brother; Zachary Svajda (active)