|
|
Jackie Lehua Ornellas of Hawaii
© Andrew Ong/USTA
|
By Blair Thompson, USTA.com
The number six in tennis usually means good things. For Jackie Lehua Ornellas of the 3.0 women’s team from Hawaii, the number six means great things.
Competing in her first USTA League presented by Chrysler National Championships, Lehua Ornellas has a built in rooting section back home with six grandchildren cheering her on.
At the tender age of 48, Lehua Ornellas, who also happily mentions she’s lost 40 pounds playing tennis over the last three years, has two children of her own, a son and a daughter, who have four and two children, respectively. Ranging in age from the oldest at nine-years-old to the youngest at one, it’s a veritable Brady Bunch with three boys and three girls.
Asked if any of her grandchildren have picked up her passion for tennis, she says 5-year-old Brock has joined her on the courts and may be the next ace in the family.
“Brock loves tennis. He says he wants to become a pro player so he can make lots of money and visit his ‘nana’ all the time.”
Back to National Championship Homepage