Oklahoma State University Athletics
Mendoza Making Most of College Tennis Experience
April 09, 2015 | Cowboy Tennis
By Dominic Holden, OSU media relations
You never know how you're going to find your calling in life.
That's how Philippines native Jurence Mendoza turned a summer hobby into a scholarship to play for a Division I program in the United States.
"I first started when I was 7 years old," Mendoza said. "It was the summer and I was a little out shape, so one of our family friends called us to come play tennis just for a hobby and to become more active."
From that point on, Mendoza was all tennis, all the time. When it became time to look at colleges, Mendoza found interest in the United States, and a school faraway in Stillwater, Okla., 8,155 miles from his hometown of Olongapo City.
"I chose Oklahoma State because I heard they were building a new facility," Mendoza said. "When I came for a visit and I saw the facilities, it was the best way for me to improve my tennis career while pursuing academics."
Mendoza is adjusting well to playing at the college level. The sophomore owns a 6-4 record in spring play, with a 7-5 record overall.
And the crowds that fill the facilities that drew him here make Mendoza feel right at home.
"With college tennis you get used to pressure from the crowd and especially now how they changed the format to sudden death," Mendoza said. " It's more like playing for my country, actually."
Which is something Mendoza has done, representing the Philippines at various tennis events around the world, including playing at the junior level of the Davis Cup.
"I've played five of them," Mendoza explained. "It's fun because it's like the World Cup of tennis.
For Mendoza, playing for his country has been a humbling experience.
"It's such a honor," Mendoza said. "I was a flag bearer one time for the Asian Youth Games. That was my proudest moment. So, when I'm here, I feel like I'm representing my country."
While he's enjoying his life in Stillwater as a business major and athlete, Mendoza hopes to continue his tennis career after college.
"I want to go pro," Mendoza said. "I've dreamed of it for a long time. It would just be really special to me."
Mendoza has had no regrets about coming to the United States for school. Although he intends to return home after college, Mendoza knows he has made friends that will last him a lifetime.
"To me, they are like my brothers," Mendoza said of his teammates. "We are all pretty close so I didn't feel like I even needed to make new friends here because I have those guys. We are like a family."
But this spring, Mendoza's focus remains on the task at hand, on, and off, the court.
"We want to win the championship, but we know it's pretty hard and it's everybody else's goal," Mendoza said. "I just want to be a good student-athlete in general, do well in my studies and represent OSU in the best way possible."
Players Mentioned
