Alabama Men’s Tennis Q&A: Mazen Osama
2/13/2017 12:29:00 PM | Men's Tennis
RollTide.com will be posting Q&A's of each member on this year's Alabama men's tennis team so fans can get to know the members of our Crimson Tide family. The second Q&A is with Mazen Osama, a talented sophomore from Cairo, Egypt, who is studying criminal justice. Osama plays the majority of his singles matches from the No.1 position, where he just came off a huge singles win against the nation's No. 27-ranked singles player. Osama is currently nationally-ranked No. 92 in singles play.
Q: What do you miss most about Egypt?
A: The food. I eat at Tut's Place on the Strip sometimes but there's nothing like home cooking.
Q: What was your first visit to campus like?
A: My first visit to campus was really cool just to see the massive buildings, the fraternity houses and the stadiums. I thought all this was a god environment to be around.
Q: What surprised you most about Alabama?
A: the beauty of campus. When you first arrive at Alabama you have no idea what to expect if you are not from this country. The campus is one of the prettiest places.
Q: How much of a culture shock was it going from Egypt to Alabama?
A: It wasn't that much of a shock culture wise, because I had been to the states a few times before I came to college. I had an idea of how things worked, but the food is really different in Egypt.
Q: Who inspired you most in tennis?
A: One of my coaches from home, Ahmed Hany.
Q: When did playing tennis in college become a goal for you?
A: I decided to go to college in May of 2015, because I didn't have the financial support to make it on the pro tour.
Q: What song pumps you up to play?
A: Bounce Back by Big Sean.
Q: What is your favorite movie made before you were born?
A: Scarface, no question.
Q: What is your favorite hobby outside of tennis?
A: Shooting pool.
Q: If you could meet any person in the world who would it be?
A: Roger Federer. He has been the best in tennis and his dominance has always been inspirational especially seeing him win the Australian Open last weekend. I would just like to chill with him. No tennis.
Q: If you were playing a pro circuit what grand slam would you want to win most?
A: Aussie, Aussie, Aussie.
Q: What do you like to hear from fans when they are cheering for you?
A: Let's go Pharaoh!
Q: Now that you're in your second season, what are some things you notice differently about yourself mentally, physically and emotionally compared to last year?
A: There is a lot of things that are different from last season. Mentally, I am stronger because college tennis is different from the pro tour. For example, dealing with chair umpire, and adjusting to college system scoring. It became more accepting for me, and it made me mentally stronger. Physically, I am way more in shape than last season just because I had a surgery this past summer and I had to recover from it. I am definitely more fit.
Q: What are some goals you look to achieve this spring season?
A: My goals this season are to be in the top-10 by the end of the season in both singles and doubles.
Q: If you weren't playing tennis what sport would you play?
A: I would be playing soccer.
Q: What teammate of yours is best to follow on Twitter, and why?
A: Actually none of my teammates are about Twitter. I don't even know if they have one.
Q: Who would win an arm wrestling competition on the team?
A: Thibault Cancel.
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Players Mentioned
