For professional tennis players, family support is of utmost importance. This year, it took on a new significance for 21-year-old American Zach Svajda. His father, longtime San Diego-area tennis coach Tom Svajda, was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer after Wimbledon. This left Zach, his younger brother Trevor (who played No. 1 singles as a freshman on the Southern Methodist University tennis team), and their mother Anita to care for him.

Family's Unwavering Support

Tom Svajda was a prominent teaching pro at the Pacific Beach Tennis Club for over 20 years. Despite his illness rendering him too weak to teach, he remains "obsessed with tennis" and still asks about things on the court during his treatments. Zach Svajda, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 102 in August, shared that their journey through his treatment has been extremely challenging. "Supporting him through this has been one of the most difficult yet meaningful experiences of my life," he said.The local tennis community and beyond rallied to help. The GoFundMe created to support Tom Svajda's medical expenses and the family has raised nearly $93,000 of its initial $150,000 goal. Over the weekend, James Blake and Brandon Nakashima participated in a fundraising exhibition. The event at Rancho Santa Fe Tennis Club in San Diego featured the Svajda brothers competing in a doubles match against Blake and Nakashima.Nakashima, who has known the Svajda family for over a decade since his junior tennis days with Zachary, said, "Tom has been so committed to helping his kids pursue their passion. Zachary and I have a great friendship. We train together, motivate each other, and push each other through the challenges of the tour. For me, it is fulfilling to use my platform to lift up their spirits during this difficult time. I love to give back to the community."

Former World No. 4's Connection

Former world No. 4 Blake, who also resides in San Diego, knows all too well what the Svajda family is going through. His father passed away due to gastric cancer in 2004. "When a part of the tennis family is hurting, the whole community is hurting," Blake said. He noted that the personal memories of playing tennis with his parents compelled him to participate. "We feel for Tom so much and want to do what we can to help the family and raise some money. So the time and energy for me to be a part of it is my pleasure. I hope it makes a meaningful difference."Fans interested in contributing to the GoFundMe can do so by clicking here. This story showcases the power of the tennis family and the importance of coming together in times of need.