Rafael Osuna Herrera, nicknamed "El Pelon", was a former world No 1 tennis player, the most successful player in the history of Mexico and an Olympian.
13 Facts About Rafael Osuna
2.
Rafael Osuna was born in Mexico City, and is best remembered for his singles victory at the US Open Championships in 1963, winning the 1960 and 1963 Wimbledon Doubles championships, the 1962 US Open Championships doubles, and for leading Mexico to its only Davis Cup Final round appearance in 1962.
3.
Rafael Osuna is the only Mexican to date to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, in 1979.
4.
Rafael Osuna won the Doubles Championship, with Alfredo Ramos Uriarte as his partner.
5.
Rafael Osuna was awarded a full scholarship to attend the University of Southern California in the US, by Head Coach George Toley, who quickly identified Osuna as a major talent.
6.
Rafael Osuna participated in the 1960 Wimbledon championships, competing only in the doubles category with Dennis Ralston.
7.
Rafael Osuna was known for his footspeed, touch, and tactical awareness.
8.
Rafael Osuna cleverly neutralized [Froehling's] power with wonderfully conceived and executed tactics, especially lobbed service returns from 10 to 12 feet behind the baseline.
9.
Occasionally Rafael Osuna would stand in and take Froehling's serve on the rise, chipping the backhand, but more often he lobbed returns to disrupt Froehling's serve-volley rhythm and break down his suspect overhead.
10.
Rafael Osuna climbed the wall of the stadium to retrieve smashes and float back perfect lobs, frustrating Froehling with his nimble speed around the court, touch and tactical variations.
11.
Rafael Osuna is remembered by his bold strategy against Bill Bowrey on the 4th match of the Mexico vs Australia Davis Cup tie in 1969.
12.
Rafael Osuna competed for Mexico in tennis at the 1968 Summer Olympics, which was a demonstration sport with no medals awarded.
13.
Rafael Osuna was one of 79 people killed in the crash of Mexicana de Aviacion Flight 704 on 4 June 1969 near Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, "Pico del Fraile", Tres Cerros.