CARIBBEAN SQUAD HAS FAMILY TIES

RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. – It’s not so unusual to find two sisters playing together on a team that makes it to the USTA League Nationals.

But at this weekend’s Adult 40 & Over 3.5 National Championships at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort, 41-year old twin sisters and Caribbean team members Janira and Janitza Morales were joined by a third member of the family: Janitza’s husband, Frank Alexis Herrera, is playing for the Caribbean men’s Adult 40 & Over 3.5 team.

Four years ago the twin sisters and Herrera began playing tennis. Soon thereafter, they joined a USTA League.

“It’s all about having fun with the family and having a good time,” said Herrera, a 44-year-old international banker.

The Morales sisters and Herrera reside in Bayamon, P.R., and are blessed with beautiful weather that allows them to play tennis year-round. They improve their skills by joining competitions at their local club, Centro Tennis Honda, as well as neighboring clubs.

The practice has paid dividends as the Morales sisters were part of the team that won the 18 & Over 2.5 Caribbean Sectional tournament in 2013 and the USTA League Adult 18 & Over 3.0 National Championship in 2015.

In 2014, Herrera and Janitza helped the Caribbean Section capture the USTA League 5.0 Mixed Doubles National Championship in Tucson, Ariz. In 2015, Herrera was a member of the Caribbean Section team that won the Men’s 18 & Over 3.0 and the Men’s 40 & Over National Championships in Tucson.

Through the years, they have enjoyed all of the friendships they have made through USTA League tennis.

“We get to meet people from everywhere,” Herrera said. “We’re having a great time at Nationals!”