MSU sophomore Giovanni Oradini leads the Bulldogs with 14 wins this fall, with 10 of those coming against ranked foes.
Photo by: Bill Kallenberg
Know Your Bulldog: Giovanni Oradini
November 22, 2017 | Men's Tennis
The following feature story can be found in the Oct. 23 Mississippi State Football Game Program, which can be purchased for $5 in and around Davis Wade Stadium on Thursday.
Giovanni Oradini is not one to shy away from ranked competition. In fact, he does not even think about it.
The Mississippi State men's tennis lefty finished with a 14-6 ledger this fall with 10 of those team-leading 14 wins coming against ranked opponents.
"I do not think about the rankings, it's just a secondary thing—it is all about the big picture," Oradini said. "Like my coaches always tell me, 'it's a process.'"
This process began in the small town of Rovereto, Italy where Oradini's tennis roots run deep through his family tree. His first exposure to the sport began close to home and under his own roof. His father, Pierluigi, was his first coach and the catalyst that led him to the collegiate stage at Mississippi State. His older brother, Giacomo, played professionally and now teaches lessons.
"My family is everything," Oradini said. "I come from a tennis family. My mom did not play, but she dedicated her life to my brother and me. Without them, I couldn't do anything."
Many high school students begin to contemplate the idea of leaving their friends and family to move on to college. Oradini, however, faced the daunting decision to take his talents overseas and make a continental shift.
Now entering his sophomore year, he has never second guessed his decision to play and study at MSU.
"In Italy we don't really have college tennis," Oradini said. "If you want to play tennis, then you just go pro. I wanted to give myself more than I could get in Italy. I wanted to grow as a person."
Oradini believes his experiences at MSU are giving him opportunities and tools to succeed that he could not find anywhere else.
"Gio," as he is often called, sees MSU as his opportunity to better himself, expand the level of his game and look beyond to what life brings him when his time on the court is done. He sees each individual success as an additive for the coaching staff and his teammates.
Keeping in mind the bigger picture and playing for something bigger than himself is what drives this rising Bulldog star. A special gleam appears in Oradini's eyes when he explains what State and the coaching staff has brought out of him in such a short time.
"Outside of tennis, I am understanding more than I ever could have before," Oradini said. "I am becoming more mature and a better person. Tennis is not just hitting a ball. If you do well in the different aspects of your life, then you will feel better on the court."
Oradini went on to explain how the American culture is world-renowned for their success in tennis, which drew him to joining the Bulldog family.
Rankings are in the back of Oradini's mind, but American cuisine definitely is not. The Americanized version of an Italian staple gets a top ranking from a true expert as the Italian was thrilled to divulge that "the pizza is not bad here, either."
Wrapping his first fall campaign in Maroon and White, Oradini is looking forward to building more trust between his fellow Bulldogs and succeeding with them in the upcoming spring season.
Oradini concluded that, "with the process and the big picture in mind, the results will come."
MSU's 29th-ranked Oradini and the rest of the Bulldogs will take the court at 1 p.m. on Jan. 14 against UAB. Admission to the match at A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre is free.
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Giovanni Oradini is not one to shy away from ranked competition. In fact, he does not even think about it.
The Mississippi State men's tennis lefty finished with a 14-6 ledger this fall with 10 of those team-leading 14 wins coming against ranked opponents.
"I do not think about the rankings, it's just a secondary thing—it is all about the big picture," Oradini said. "Like my coaches always tell me, 'it's a process.'"
This process began in the small town of Rovereto, Italy where Oradini's tennis roots run deep through his family tree. His first exposure to the sport began close to home and under his own roof. His father, Pierluigi, was his first coach and the catalyst that led him to the collegiate stage at Mississippi State. His older brother, Giacomo, played professionally and now teaches lessons.
"My family is everything," Oradini said. "I come from a tennis family. My mom did not play, but she dedicated her life to my brother and me. Without them, I couldn't do anything."
Many high school students begin to contemplate the idea of leaving their friends and family to move on to college. Oradini, however, faced the daunting decision to take his talents overseas and make a continental shift.
Now entering his sophomore year, he has never second guessed his decision to play and study at MSU.
"In Italy we don't really have college tennis," Oradini said. "If you want to play tennis, then you just go pro. I wanted to give myself more than I could get in Italy. I wanted to grow as a person."
Oradini believes his experiences at MSU are giving him opportunities and tools to succeed that he could not find anywhere else.
"Gio," as he is often called, sees MSU as his opportunity to better himself, expand the level of his game and look beyond to what life brings him when his time on the court is done. He sees each individual success as an additive for the coaching staff and his teammates.
Keeping in mind the bigger picture and playing for something bigger than himself is what drives this rising Bulldog star. A special gleam appears in Oradini's eyes when he explains what State and the coaching staff has brought out of him in such a short time.
"Outside of tennis, I am understanding more than I ever could have before," Oradini said. "I am becoming more mature and a better person. Tennis is not just hitting a ball. If you do well in the different aspects of your life, then you will feel better on the court."
Oradini went on to explain how the American culture is world-renowned for their success in tennis, which drew him to joining the Bulldog family.
Rankings are in the back of Oradini's mind, but American cuisine definitely is not. The Americanized version of an Italian staple gets a top ranking from a true expert as the Italian was thrilled to divulge that "the pizza is not bad here, either."
Wrapping his first fall campaign in Maroon and White, Oradini is looking forward to building more trust between his fellow Bulldogs and succeeding with them in the upcoming spring season.
Oradini concluded that, "with the process and the big picture in mind, the results will come."
MSU's 29th-ranked Oradini and the rest of the Bulldogs will take the court at 1 p.m. on Jan. 14 against UAB. Admission to the match at A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre is free.
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Players Mentioned
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