A Father, A Son, and the Rebirth of a Tennis Dream: Daniel Kandler’s Return to the Game

For many, tennis is a sport of youth — a game etched into summers past, a rhythm of serves and volleys played under the sun until life’s demands pull us away from the court. For Daniel Kandler, it was exactly that. A talented and competitive player in his younger years, Daniel eventually set aside his racquet for business, fatherhood, and the responsibilities that came with both. But life, as it often does, has a way of circling back — and now, Daniel’s passion for tennis has been reignited, not by a championship or a celebrity match, but by something far more personal: his son.

It began quietly. Weekend lessons. Casual rallies. A few local tournaments. But as Daniel watched his son fall in love with the game, something stirred. The footwork, the strategy, the drive to improve — it all came flooding back. More importantly, Daniel saw in his son not just talent, but hunger. A real pursuit. A dream forming in real time.

Today, that dream has a clear focus: climbing the Florida junior tennis rankings and ultimately securing a Division 1 college scholarship. It’s a lofty goal, but Daniel Kandler knows what it takes to excel. A seasoned entrepreneur and competitor in life, Daniel sees tennis not just as a game, but as a proving ground — a place where hard work, discipline, and resilience converge.

As his son rises through the ranks of Florida’s fiercely competitive junior circuit, Daniel has stepped into a new role: not coach, not just parent, but partner. He’s at every practice, researching every UTR bump, every training method. He’s up at 5 AM to hit the gym with his son before school and stays up late reviewing match footage. The same focus that helped Daniel build successful businesses now fuels his support on and off the court.

“It’s not about trying to live through him,” Daniel Kandler says. “It’s about walking beside him.”

And while his son’s journey toward a Division 1 scholarship is at the center, Daniel’s own game has quietly re-emerged. Sparring with former pros, hitting the courts after years away — he’s found a rhythm again. His footwork isn’t quite what it used to be, but his competitive spirit hasn’t dulled one bit. More than that, he says, tennis has become their bond.

“There’s something sacred about a shared pursuit,” he reflects. “We’re both trying to get better. Every day. For different reasons — but on the same court.”

The road to college tennis is no easy one. The Florida junior rankings are stacked with elite talent, and Division 1 programs look for more than just skill — they want character, grit, academic excellence. Daniel has made sure his son’s training includes as much mental discipline as forehand drills. Nutrition, recovery, time management — nothing is left to chance. It’s a full-time commitment, and Daniel wouldn’t have it any other way.

Through it all, he’s gained something unexpected. In watching his son chase his dream, Daniel has rediscovered his own passion — not just for tennis, but for mentorship, for growth, for the pure joy of competition. The very things he once loved about the sport have returned, deeper now, shaded by time and perspective.

“Tennis gave me so much when I was young,” says Daniel Kandler. “Now I get to give it back — to my son, to myself.”

As his son’s ranking climbs and college scouts begin to take notice, the Kandler family’s journey is far from over. But whether that dream ends with a Division 1 scholarship or something entirely different, Daniel knows the real win has already happened.

Because in chasing the game again, side by side with his son, he’s found something far more enduring than a trophy — he’s found purpose, joy, and the rekindling of a lifelong love.

And that, for Daniel Kandler, is the sweetest victory of all.