AAPI Month Feature: Loc Le

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the U.S., and USTA Nebraska is recognizing Loc Le.

When Loc Le was growing up he always wanted to play tennis, but it was very expensive to participate in the sport in his home country of Vietnam. When Le moved to the United States 30 years ago, he bought a couple racquets so he and his brother could play. After mostly just chasing after tennis balls gone astray, Le ended up quitting and played soccer instead.

“I saw a group of Vietnamese people playing tennis during my soccer match, so I came to talk to them to see if they can teach me how to play tennis,” Le said. “I have been playing tennis since then.”

Le and his friends played tennis together for years but mostly just for fun. After a while, Le decided to become more competitive. He got his friends together and captained a USTA team. It’s a decision he has never regretted.

“I decided to put a team together so we could go play with other teams and make the most of the excitement of the tennis game, friendship, bonding and getting to know more good players in the community,” he said. “But most importantly—health. Most of the players on my team are over 40, so getting physical is always a great thing.”

Le believes months like Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month are important because they bring awareness to different cultures. Sports like tennis, he said, bring communities together. Le said one way to continue making tennis more diverse is to ensure it’s an affordable option for youth players.

In addition to helping make tennis more inclusive, Le’s tennis goals are to play in more tournaments and USTA leagues. He and his USTA team drove 13 hours to Houston last year to compete in a tournament. Le would like to someday start a summer tennis camp in Lincoln for kids who have difficulty affording to play the sport.