Women’s pro tour star wants to play for RP

Fil-Am Lilia Osterloh, a regular campaigner in the women’s tennis pro tour and the Grand Slam events, hopes to suit up for the Philippines and give local tennis a big boost in the future.

But for now, Osterloh, currently ranked 94th in the world and 24th in women’s doubles with Ukrainian Mariya Koryttseva, is busy campaigning in the Women’s Pro Tour.

“I’m excited to be here, see the atmosphere,” said Osterloh, who arrived here Friday to visit mother Yolanda’s hometown in Cebu where they will spend the weekend before the two leave today for a tournament in Pattaya, Thailand.

“If it’s possible, I would love to play for the Philippines in the future but I have a full schedule this year,” said Osterloh, a Sandra Bullock look-alike whose highest ranking was 41st in 2001 following her fourth round finish in the Wimbledon and US Open the year before.

Osterloh, who will turn 30 on April 7, was playing tune-up games with RP’s top junior players Kyle Dandan and Pablo Olivares II when RP tennis vice president Randy Villanueva asked her for a brief interview with local scribes.

Osterloh, who led Stanford to the 1997 NCAA tennis title before turning pro the same year, has a career earning of $1,080,328 with her biggest purse worth $20,875 from topping the 2005 $75,000 Pittsburgh International Tennis Classic. – Joey Villar