Growing Together: The Trevino Family's Journey Through Tennis

As Hispanic Heritage Month continues, the Texas tennis community honors a culture rich in tradition, pride, and resilience. For Laredo native Tina Trevino, the month is more than a celebration; it’s a reflection of her journey toward embracing her Hispanic roots.

"Hispanic Heritage Month is very important to me because it honors our culture, our background, our roots, and it's an opportunity to be prideful," Trevino said. "I grew up not being prideful of who I was. But when I came to Laredo, I fell in love with who I am, my culture, and I learned about it."

Trevino’s pride in her heritage and her community is something she aims to incorporate into her love for tennis, a sport that has been a lifelong passion for her family. She believes that intertwining the Hispanic heritage with tennis can contribute to the sport’s growth in the region.

"Living here in Laredo, we take so much pride in Hispanic heritage. I feel like being able to integrate that with tennis, and trying to bring that fun Hispanic culture into the sport, can make the game so much fun to play," Trevino added. "Nationally, the Hispanic community has been one of the greatest contributors to growing the game."

For Trevino, tennis is not just a sport but a legacy passed down through generations of her family. It began with her husband, affectionately known as "Doc," whose passion for the sport was instilled in their children and grandchildren.

"As a grandmother, it's given me great pride," Trevino said. "It started with my husband and me falling in love with tennis, then sharing it with our son, and now with our grandson."

Trevino reminisces about early days spent nurturing her grandson Diego’s athletic abilities. From the time Diego was just three years old, "Doc" was already helping him practice his hand-eye coordination, rolling tennis balls down the hallway. That hallway became a symbolic place in their home, where Diego first learned his forehand and backhand, hitting sponge balls against the wall.

"Tennis has brought our family together in so many ways," she said. "We’ve been going to the U.S. Open for 36 years, first with my husband and me, then with our son Tony, and now with Diego. Watching the matches and experiencing the ambiance of the Open has only fueled his love for the game."

Beyond the game, Trevino believes Hispanic Heritage Month is about recognizing and celebrating the legacy that her family, and many others, have built in the United States.

"The best thing about Hispanic Heritage Month is that it embraces the legacy of our lives," Trevino said. "From our great-grandparents who brought us here, to our parents, our siblings, and our family members, it’s about honoring where we came from and how far we’ve come."

For Trevino and her family, tennis is more than a sport—it’s a way to stay connected, to celebrate family, and to uphold the traditions and values that have shaped their lives. As they prepare for another year of honoring Hispanic Heritage Month, Trevino reflects on the central role tennis has played in bringing her family closer.

"Tennis, family, and fun—that’s what it’s all about."