BrandonZennerEditorinChief@brandonzenner

Manykidsgrowupwithaparticularsportorhobbythatbecomessynonymouswiththemasaperson.Astheygetolder,theystarttomakedreamsgetacollegescholarship,playprofessionalorbecomeacoach.

However,thereisnobiggerdreamthanthrowingonthecolorsofyourhomecountry.ForAlvaroRiveros,hisgreatestdreambecamearealitybeforetheageof20.

InJune2014,RiveroswascalleduptotherepresenthishomecountryofCostaRicaintheDavisCup,thepremierinternationalteamtournamentintennis.Fouryearsbeforethat,asa16yearold,Riveroswasunsureifhewantedtocontinueplayingtennis.

MydadwantedmetoplaytennisIwasmoreintoplayingsoccerwhenIwasyoung,Riverossaid.It(tennis)wasmorelikeahobby.ItwasnothingverycompetitiveuntilIgotolderandIhadrealizedthatIwasgettingkindagood.Ididntpracticemuchbutonceortwiceaweek.

ThenIstartedtraveling,playinginternationaltournaments,nationaltournamentsandIstarteddoingprettygood.AtsomepointIhadtochoosewhetherIwantedtoplaysoccerortennis.IwasmuchbetterattennisthanIamsoccer.

RiveroswasborninBogot,Colombia,butmovedtoHeredia,CostaRica,wherehehaslivedeversince.Beforetheageof16,RiverosparticipatedinthejuniorDavisCupwhereherealizedtheimportanceofrepresentinghiscountryandplayingintotheteamaspect.EachDavisCupmatchconsistsoftwosinglesmatchesandonedoublesmatch,makingthetournamentuniqueinthefactthatteams,notindividuals,advance.

Throughouthiscareer,Riveroscompetedinnationaltournamentsandreachedanumberoffinalsandsemifinals,evenwinningafewtournaments,boostinghimtoNo.2nationallyandputtinghimonthenationalteamsradar.However,RiveroswasunabletobegincompetinguntilhegainedcitizenshipwithCostaRica.

AssoonasIstartedmyprocesstogetmypassportandcitizenship,theyjustcalledmeimmediatelyandsaidWewantyouthere,wewantyoutobepartoftheprocess,Riverossaid.Therearealotofguyswhoareclosetomylevelsoitwasnotadecision.TheyfinallycalledmetwomonthsbeforesayingIwasabletoplay,soIjustwentthereanddidthebestIcould.

Asmanyinternationalstudentsdo,RiverosbeganweighingtheoptionofcomingtoAmericatogetaneducationandplaytoughopponentsintennis.ThoughhefinallychosetoplayatNorthwest,hecontinuedhispursuittorepresenthisnation.

TheDavisCuphasalwaysbeenadreamforme.Itsthemostimportanttournamentintheworldoftennis,andespeciallysinceyoucanrepresentyourowncountry,Riverossaid.Itssuchanhonortoplayinit.IthinkIneverthoughtaboutituntillastyear.AfterIgotmycitizenship,thefederationcallmeandsaidtheywantedtoplayDavisCup.

...DavisCupcomparedtosocceristheWorldCup.Forfootball,itsjustliketheSuperBowl,Riverosexplained.Itdoesntgetbiggerthanthis.

RiverosplayatNorthwesthascertainlywarrantedhimaspotontheCostaRicanationalteam.Nowinhisthreeseason,RiveroshaslostonlyeightsinglesmatchesandhasadvancedtotheInternationalTennisAssociationCentralRegionalsemifinalsandfinalsinthepasttwoyears.

Youcanseehesmorematureonthecourts.Whenhecame,hewaslikeakidbecausehedidnthaveagameplan,saidLluisAltimires,whoplayedwithRiverosfortwoyearsandisnowtheBearcatstennisteamsgraduateassistant.Now,hegetsoutthere,hedoesntmessaround,healwaysfinisheshismatch.

WhileRiverossaystennisisnotthatbigofadealinCostaRicabecausetheresonlyoneprofessional,itjustsohappensthattheoneprofessionalisalsoRiverosdoublespartnerattheDavisCup.JulianSaborioisonly19yearsoldandisranked1180globallybytheAssociationofTennisProfessionals.

Eachofthe130participatingcountriesarerepresentedbyfourplayerstwosinglesplayersandonedoublespair.Thetournamentisnotoneforthefaintofhearteither,assomeoftheworldstopplayersAndyMurray,RogerFederer,JoWilfriedTsongarepresenttheircountriesattheannualtournament. Riverossayseventhoughheisstillinschool,hegetstreatedlikeacelebrityattheDavisCup.Frompressconferencestostayinginahotel,Riverossaysitcanbedifficulttokeephismindstraight.

Thehardestpartis(beingtreatedlikeacelebrity).Rightnow,wereinahotel,werepracticingfourtofivehoursperdayandwhenwereresting,Imtryingtodohomework,Riverossaid.Itsreallyhardtofocuswhenyourethinkingonlyaboutthematchesandwhereweregonnaplayandpracticealot.Imreallytired.Itsreallyhardtofocus.

Inthe2014DavisCup,CostaRicawasintheAmericasGroupIII,aroundrobingroupconsistingofeightteamsfromNorth,CentralandSouthAmerica,withthetopfourteamsadvancingtothepromotionplayoffs.InthefinalpromotionplayoffmatchagainstCuba,theteamhadtorelyonRiverosandhispartnertowinthefinalmatchtoearnpromotionwiththematchtied11whenthepairplayedtheirbestmatch.

WewereplayingagainstareallytoughteamRiverossaid.Wewentoutthereandgaveeverythingandweliterallyplayedamazingthatmatch.Iswear,(weplayed)really,reallygood.Wejustdestroyedthem.Thatwasthemostamazingfeelingsofar.

NowintheAmericasGroupII,RiveroswilltrytoadvancehiscountrytotheAmericasGroupI,whichCostaRicahasneveradvancedto.Despitebeingtheunderdogsinthebooks,Riveroslikeshisteamsodds.

TheguyshaveworkedreallyhardthesepasttwomonthsIthinkourxfactoristhatwerereallymotivated,werereallygoodasateam,wegetalongreallywellsowethinkthatsreallygoingtohelpalot.Wehavereallygoodchance,Ithink.

ComeFriday,Riveroswillthrowonadifferentred,whiteandbluethecolorsofthecountryhehasrepresentedsincehischildhood.Thefeelingthatwillemanatefromhimisasgreatasany,hesays.

Itsamotivationmorethananything.Knowingthatyoureplayingforyourcountryisthebiggestmotivationthatyoulleverhave,Riverossaid.Itsnotonlyanhonor,butitssomethingyouworkhardforyoudeserveit.

Ifyourethereitsbecauseyoudeserveaplace.IthinkIdeserveaplaceandIthinkImgonnaplaythebesttennisIcould.ImgonnadoeverythingIcantowinformycountryandformeandformyteam.