Nguyen and Bracken Named May Captains of the Month
WESTBOROUGH, MA – Congratulations to Huong Nguyen and Doug Bracken on winning USTA New England’s May League Captains of the Month.
Huong Nguyen lives in Stoneham, MA and has captained and co-captained a variation of her 9.0 Mixed 18 & Over and 40 & Over team out of Woburn Racquet Club since 2017. In 2018, she was diagnosed with clear cell ovarian cancer, an extremely rare form of ovarian cancer. Despite her diagnosis, she continued to play the sport she loved, battling every day both on and off the court and scheduling matches to fit in her chemo schedule. She and partner PJ Williams competed all season long and won all but one of their matches.
Huong has been passionate about tennis her entire life, playing both in high school and college and teaching juniors at Woburn Racquet Club.
More recently, as her cancer has progressed, Huong has continued to serve as team co-captain, in a more behind-the-scenes role. She is still very involved with the team, working on appeals, organizing practices, reserving courts and recruiting players.
“I love tennis. It’s not always about the winning for me, but about the friendships, camaraderie, and self-improvement,” Huong said. “If I weren’t fighting cancer, I’d be playing as much as I could and trying to improve my tennis. Being on the court is my happy place. I want to continue to build something beyond me.”
“Prior to her diagnosis, she would be living and breathing on the courts. Her passion for tennis is unmatched by anyone I know, and her selflessness is something to be acknowledged,” said teammate Larry Tran. “I've come across passionate captains on other teams before, but Huong is on a whole other level compared to them.”
Doug Bracken lives in Farmington, CT and has captained his Men’s 18 & Over 4.5 team out of Big Sky Fitness- Farmington since 2018. An avid player since his days in New England junior tennis, Doug is now part of a perennial contender in both Connecticut and New England.
His squad has reached Sectionals for around nine consecutive years, including the past five that he’s been at the helm.
Huong Nguyen is pictured in the front row, third from the left, with her team.
Doug Bracken is pictured in the back row, second from the left, with his team.
Doug (right) strategizes with his doubles partner in between points.
Huong works with the Junior Development Program at Woburn Racquet Club.
Huong and her biggest supporter, husband John Dickason.
- Huong Nguyen is pictured in the front row, third from the left, with her team.
- Doug Bracken is pictured in the back row, second from the left, with his team.
- Doug (right) strategizes with his doubles partner in between points.
- 4
- 5
“Captaining is more a sense of responsibility for me to keep the streak alive at this point,” he joked. “I feel motivated to keep this team going and continue the success.”
The team finished second at both the 2019 and 2021 New England Sectionals (2020 Sectionals was canceled due to covid).
Through it all, Doug has been consistent as a captain and has worked to create a fun, fair and successful team culture.
“I try to stay positive and put everybody in great situations to succeed. I like to be open and honest with people off the court and try to build a genuine sense of a team,” he said. “With tennis being a singles or doubles sport, creating that atmosphere is what makes this fun, so you’re not just invested in yourself, but how your teammates are doing.”
“Doug is hands down the best captain I’ve ever played for. He’s well organized and takes the position of captain very seriously,” said teammate Craig Phillips. “Not only is he a great tennis player and captain, but his post-match commentary is second to none. Doug really cares about our team and deserves to be recognized for his efforts.”
Congratulations, Huong and Doug!
Related Articles
-
![Visit the Sharon Murphy Spotlight page]( "Sharon Murphy standing on the court holding a racquet.")
Sharon Murphy SpotlightAugust 18, 2026"This is stupid." That was the verdict from a group of kids at a summer club in Glastonbury, CT, the first time Sharon Murphy laid caution tape across the length of the court, creating six 36-foot courts on one full-size tennis court. The kids wanted to know why. Why couldn't they just play with the yellow ball? Read More -
![Visit the Gravity is Undefeated page]( "Gravity is undefeated.")
Gravity is UndefeatedAugust 18, 2026When I was 34, I heard Stan Smith give a lecture on the role of the head in posture and balance. Being a young, all-knowing coach at the time, I thought it was obvious. Of course posture and balance matter. Seven years later, I had an epiphany. I finally saw what true posture and balance actually look like. It is not obvious. Not even close. I had to pay attention. Close attention. And in my experience, it is the root cause of most technical errors coaches are trying to solve. But once you see it, posture and balance become an essential part of your technical lens. Read More -
![Visit the Bronze at Maccabiah Games page]( "An official places the bronze medal around Janet Pearl's neck at the 2026 Maccabiah Games award ceremony.")
Bronze at Maccabiah GamesAugust 06, 2026Trailing by a set and down 1-5 in the second of a brutal, three-and-a-half-hour bronze medal match at July’s Maccabiah Games, Wellesley, MA’s Janet Pearl was just one game away from losing the medal of her dreams. But Pearl was no stranger to uphill battles. Fighting through a painful elbow injury on top of a multi-year recovery from a knee injury, the 61-year-old refused to give up. Relying on the grit honed over years of rehabilitation, she battled back point after point to win the match and secure the bronze for Maccabi USA, a non-profit sponsoring the American delegation at the Games. For Pearl, the bronze was more than a win; it was the ultimate symbol of perseverance and the official end of her journey to recovery. Read More
Sign up for our Newsletter
Download the USTA App
