10 Questions with Men's Tennis Player Leandro Osorio
9/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Sept. 23, 2008
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Leandro Osorio returns to the USC Upstate men's tennis program for his senior campaign. The Quillota, Chile native shares the third-place ranking with former partner, Sebastian Gonzales-Orbegoso, on the Spartan all-time doubles wins record with 54. He and current partner, Nicolas Ospina, won the doubles tournament at the ETSU Fall Challenge this past weekend with an 8-3 victory over Lincoln Memorial's Hannes Ganss and Bastian Guenther. Osorio fell to Ganss in the singles semifinals, 6-2, 6-2.
Last season, Osorio posted a 12-10 doubles record with Gonzales-Orbegoso (moving from the No. 2 to No. 1 slot) and went 8-6 in singles play. He became the fifth player in Upstate's history to post 50 doubles wins with an 8-4 triumph over Florida Gulf Coast's, Brentaon Bacon and Ricardo Hernandez in 2008. He was a member of the 2006 Upstate team that advanced to the NCAA National Tournament.
Osorio is majoring in information management. Upon graduation, he plans on going back to his native country, Chile, to work for a family company in computer information and management.
Recently, Leandro Osorio sat down with Sarah Hurd, of upstatespartans.com, to discuss his experiences on the USC Upstate men's tennis team under coach Alessandro De Marzo.
How long have you been playing tennis?
I've been playing since I was eight years old. I moved from Quillota to Sandiago to try to play professionally. I played four years in Sandiago, practicing six days a week and traveling around the world. When I was 17, I decided wanted to focus on my future and give up tennis. I came to the United States to concentrate on academics and I also started playing tennis again seriously.
Do you prefer doubles or singles? When you're working with another player on the court, what do you think is the most important thing to keep in mind?
I like both, it really depends on how I'm feeling. When you're playing doubles, I think it's most important to have fun and give 100 percent. If you're having fun and communicating with your partner, you can be successful.
Is tennis viewed any differently in Chile?
Yes. Tennis has become more competitive in Chile within the past five years, especially now that we have two professional players, and athletes and fans alike are becoming more involved. Unfortunately, Chile doesn't have enough money to support all the people who want to play tennis because it can be an expensive sport to fund.
What are your thoughts on the US Open? Who is your favorite professional tennis player?
The US Open was pretty crazy. I never thought that Federer would win again. My favorite professional player is Marcelo Rios. He is from Chile but no longer plays anymore. I liked him because he played with a different attitude and style.
You are tied for third with Sebastian Gonzales-Orbegoso on the all-time Upstate doubles record with 54 wins. What does this mean to you for your upcoming senior season?
It comes with a little pressure but I'm not thinking about it. I'm playing for my team and trying to do the best for the team. If I can win more, it will be great, but I'm just looking to give my 100 percent every time I play for the team.
What is your mentality before playing in an important match against a talented opponent?
Just to give 100 percent and have fun. If you can't have fun while you play, it's better to not play because you have to enjoy the game to succeed.
Do you have any superstitions or pregame rituals that you partake in?
I try to sit on the same part of the bench all the time, but that can get difficult. I'm more focused on motivating myself personally and enjoying what I do.
What's your favorite part about playing tennis here at USC Upstate?
I love the team. The majority of us are from South America so we share that connection. We practice very hard, but we all share the same mentality and understand the importance of having fun.
What has it been like playing under head coach Alessandro De Marzo, an accomplished tennis coach and former player?
Alessandro is a great guy. He is more than a coach and can be a great friend. We all feel very connected with him. I really respect the way he handles his job. His door is always open to us and we know that if we have personal problems, we can go to him for advice. As a coach, he is very knowledgeable and we all trust his advice because he knows each of our skill levels and how we can improve.
Do you plan on staying in the US after you graduate?
No, I plan on going back to Chile. My family has a company there that I want to work with. I'd like to go back and start working on computers and management.
