Instead of just adjusting to life at college like most other new students, freshman tennis athlete Alejandro Cordero Lopez also spent freshman orientation getting used to life in a new country with a different language.

After playing tennis most of his childhood, he said he realized it could be an excellent opportunity for him to study in America as a college student. 

“When I was 14, I realized the adrenaline of competing. Then I really went into tennis,” Cordero Lopez said. “Three years ago, my family and I saw the option of going to the U.S. to study. Since then, I really focused all my tennis and studies towards coming here to a university.”

Cordero Lopez lived with his family in Madrid, Spain, before moving to Hillsdale this semester. He said that his dad has always loved the United States, and this encouraged him to decide to come to school here. He said his younger sister also wants to come to America in the future. 

“It was really hard leaving her, to be honest,” Cordero Lopez said. “She is my little sister, so I have some responsibility towards her.”

Cordero Lopez said that he got involved in an organization that connected him with potential schools in the U.S. after making the decision to pursue higher education opportunities in the United States. He looked at many different options all across the country but was ultimately drawn to the academics of Hillsdale. 

“I feel very, very honored because not many people get accepted here,” Cordero Lopez said. 

Although Cordero Lopez had visited the United States on a trip all around the country before moving here, move-in weekend was his first time visiting Hillsdale. 

“College didn’t scare me as much as how I was going to adapt to another language, new friends, and a new country,” Cordero Lopez said. “It was more just coming to another country and another culture.”

Cordero Lopez plans to return to Spain after graduating, but he’s open to the future. 

“Right now, what I want to do is go back to Spain,” said Cordero Lopez. “But you never know, there’s a lot of factors that can change. Maybe I will get a good job, maybe I will find a girl here and stay.”

Cordero Lopez did say that sometimes language students come and try to talk to him in Spanish, but they are a little rusty. He said that while he knew English well before coming to America, the language adjustment was still prominent at first. 

“I was in an English school when I was younger, so I have a very good foundation. But afterward, I went back to a Spanish school,” Cordero Lopez said. “To be honest, the first couple of weeks was very tough. Now it’s become much, much better.”

Cordero Lopez said that he loves tennis and is enjoying the chance to play in college because, in Spain, universities do not offer sports programs. This was another huge factor for him when deciding to attend school in the United States. 

“Here they give you a scholarship for playing tennis, and that’s a very big temptation to come here,” Cordero Lopez said. “I’ve got a couple friends that have stayed in Spain who want to play tennis, but you can’t really combine those two.”

This year’s tennis team has five international students, which creates a unique set of circumstances, according to head men’s tennis coach Keith Turner. The players are able to bond through their similar experiences of attending school out of the country.

“It’s a different atmosphere this year,” Turner said. “A bunch of guys trying to become comfortable with their surroundings.”  

Cordero Lopez said he has been loving the tight-knit team element of Hillsdale tennis. 

“Here it’s more a team sport, whereas in Europe it’s a very lonely sport. Whether you win or you lose, it’s all on yourself,” Cordero Lopez said. 

Tournament stats show a very solid start to his college tennis career. He has had several victories in matches and continues to place well. Additionally, Hillsdale College Athletics Department updates show that he has already recorded multiple exciting upsets including against a nationally ranked player from Wayne State University. Turner said he is excited to have Cordero Lopez on the team. 

“Alex has a high upside. He knows how to train correctly,” Turner said. “He’s the type of player that will only get better. I expect him to be one of my top guys going forward.”

Cordero Lopez said that he is ready and excited to spend his four years at Hillsdale College playing tennis. 

“Alex is a joy to be around. He acts like a senior on the team. When we’re down, he helps to bring us up,” fellow freshman and teammate Ryan Papazov said. “He is the foundation of the team, and we build off him.”