May 6, 2005

Junior Mirza Koristovic has been an impact player for much of his Torero career. As head coach Tom Hagedorn puts it, when the native from Oslo, Norway gets his serve going, he is one of the toughest players in the country to stop. He has seen time at mainly the No. 3 and No. 4 positions in the line-up and he also formed a partnership with senior Nic Beuque at the No. 1 spot in doubles. With a lethal serve and a powerful backhand, Koristovic has established himself as one of the players Hagedorn can count on to battle each and every match. Before 31st-ranked San Diego traveled to Pepperdine, Calif. to take part in the West Coast Conference Championships, the Business major sat down with Roland Hu for a Q & A session.

1. How did you spend your summer?

I spent my summer back home in Norway, playing tournaments and just hanging out with friends. That's it.

Did you go on any vacations?

Yeah, I went one week to London to visit one of my friends. That's basically it... I didn't travel any. I was in Norway and London.

What was your favorite part of London?

I don't remember because we were hanging out in one place all the time. We didn't even visit any of the well-known places. We just stayed at his place and went to some parties.

Was it a USD friend or one from back home?

One from back home - a tennis friend.

So you didn't go to Wimbledon at all?

No, but I did watch it on TV!

So you spent the summer at home. What is your favorite part about Norway?

My favorite part is that it is my home. I have all my family and friends there and I just love being there with them. Also, playing those tournaments back home... in Norway, it is a very small tennis nation so everyone knows everybody, so playing in one of these tournaments is exciting because you always know who you are going to play and how you are going to play him. I just love being there.

So how many kids from Norway come and play in the U.S.?

Right now, there are about five players in college tennis.

Would you say you are the best out of them?

I'm close to the top. There is one guy right now who is the best right now - he plays for Mississippi. And then the other four are pretty equal, all of us.

2. So you have a couple of original nicknames that I've heard throughout the season. Why do they call you The Olso Express?

Tom [Hagedorn] always jokes about it because on my returns, I always go backwards and I am supposed to go forwards. Oslo Express is like a train, always going forward, so he was just joking that I was supposed to go forward like a train. He just started calling me the Oslo Express my freshman year, towards my sophomore year, in between there.

They also call you Mr. Miyake. Why's that?

That's something Oscar [Plotnik]... I don't know where that came from. I think Oscar was watching The Karate Kid one day, and all of a sudden, he started calling me Mr. Miyake.

He had no reason, it just came up one day?

Yeah, that's Oscar. He's random!

When did he start calling you Mr. Miyake?

That happened this semester.

Were you surprised that he was calling you that?

Yeah, I was. I didn't understand why he started calling me that, but it's fun.

The 6-1 Koristovic is originally from Bosnia, but his family moved to Norway in 1994.

Yeah. That's because me and Tom started painting our rackets with a butcher knife and they started calling me The Butcher.

Why did you both start doing that?

Some guys back home in Norway started doing it and I was there, so...

So it's kind of a Norwegian thing and Tom just got on the bandwagon...

Yeah, I guess so.

3. What are some differences that you notice between your hometown and San Diego?

There is a huge difference in the weather. Here, it is sunny all the time and back home, we have seasons. It's snowing, it's raining, it's sunny... the weather is very different. Also the people back home, they are a lot more equal. Here you have the rich people, the poor people... back home, you have the same.

Was it difficult to get used to...

No, not really. I was expecting it.

Had you been to the States prior to USD?

No. I've been everywhere else, basically, except for Africa. I've been everywhere else playing ITF tournaments. I had never been to the U.S.

What other schools were recruiting you back then?

I think Louisville and Stetson, which is in Florida.

So were you happy with your decision to come to San Diego?

Yeah. It wasn't even any competition. I was going here for sure, right away when they offered.

Do you miss having seasons?

Yeah I do, actually. I love being in the snow and skiing and having snowball wars and stuff. It's a special feeling when you go out and everything is white. It's really nice. Except the rainy seasons. Those aren't too nice because everything is dirty and raining.

4. You are about to go on a three-month backpacking trip all around Europe. What are three essential things you'll need to survive?

I need my tennis racquet because I'd probably want to play some tennis. I'm addicted! Number two... I'll need my toothbrush because I need to brush my teeth. I don't feel good if I don't brush my teeth. And number three would be my cell phone. I need to have contact with the family... and you just a cell phone. Whatever you need, you can always call and get it with your cell phone.

Have you traveled around Europe before, since you are from Europe and all?

Yeah I have. I've been to almost every country in Europe.

What was your favorite place?

My favorite place was probably Croatia because it is very beautiful. They have very beautiful small towns, the beaches, the food is amazing... it's close to where I originally come from. I come from Bosnia, so it's really close. I love it.

When did you and your family move to Norway from Bosnia?

It was about 1994.

How old were you?

When I came to Norway, I was 10 years old.

Was it a big change for you?

Yeah, it was.

Do you miss Bosnia at all? Or do you consider Norway more of your home?

I consider both of them my home, but I miss Bosnia. It's pretty equal. Norway, Bosnia... they are both my home.

Do you ever go back to Bosnia?

I haven't been back yet, but I will. Maybe this summer I will go back.

5. So these days, it seems like the networks are popping up with all kinds of new reality TV shows. What reality TV show would you want to see happen?

What reality show... that's a hard one! I haven't thought about it. I don't watch those TV shows too much. I'd like to do one like "Paradise Hotel." Have you seen that one? It's the only one I watched this summer. People get a chance to live in a nice hotel with other people their age.

6. If you could have three people over for dinner, who would you invite?

I would have Pete Sampras because he's my idol.

How long has he been your idol?

Ever since I started playing tennis, when I was six years old. I would want to invite him because he would probably have some good advice to give me. And number two, for dinner... I don't know. Help me!

Well you know... athletes, celebrities, or anyone who you would want to talk, like an author...

I read this book, The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown, and I would like to have him for dinner because I was pretty amazed by his book. I want to know how he came up with all the things he wrote about in the book and I'd like to have a nice conversation with him about it. And the third one would be my cousin from New York because he's my role model. He's been through a lot of stuff in his life and I admire him as a person.

How old is he?

He's 26.

So you've always looked up to him?

Yeah, I have.

7. What is best restaurant you have been to while in San Diego?

Probably P.F. Chang's.

You like Chinese food?

Yeah, I do.

Do you miss Norwegian food at all?

Yeah I do.

What kind of food is Norwegian food, typically?

It's a lot of fish, potatoes, meat... we eat bread and cheese for breakfast, while you guys eat eggs and bacon.

Are your parents good cooks?

Yes, my mom is very good. My father doesn't cook at all.

So when you go home, you make sure to eat a lot of your mom's cooking?

Yes! My mom's food is my favorite food.

Do you cook at all?

No. Never. I don't know how to do it. I will learn someday though.

8. So you are a junior now and you will have to think about the real world pretty soon. What is the first thing you will do once you receive your degree?

I am going to try and make it in the pros, in tennis. So I am going to go home and get a sponsor and travel around and play some tournaments to see what happens.

So you do plan on going back to Norway?

Yes.

Do you see yourself living in the States at all?

It is a possibility.

What are you majoring in?

Business.

And finally, what would your dream job be?

My dream job would be sitting on a yacht and earning money, not doing anything.

Why would people want to pay you to do that?

I don't know... I'll probably have my own business! I'll just be the boss.