Having just completed his HSC, Aaron Osmond knows exactly how he wants the next few years to pan out.
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The main aim for the Gunnedah teen is playing college tennis in the US.
He's been in touch with several colleges but doesn't expect to finalise anything until the middle of 2022 before heading over in August.
If a career in tennis was to come after finishing his degree, Osmond thought that would "be awesome".
"Every kid dreams of being on the big stage but I'm just taking it one step at a time at the moment and see where I get to," Osmond said,
With that in mind, the 18-year-old is focused on defending his crown at the North West Championships in Tamworth this weekend.
Along with 2020, Osmond also won the title in 2018 before missing the 2019 tournament when he was in Albury playing nationals at the time.
While he's confident heading into the weekend, Osmond expects the championships - which were shifted from Gunnedah due to the floods - to be an open affair.
"Everyone's a solid competitor in it from the number one seed down to the last person in the draw," he said.
"Everyone is capable of putting on a good performance and I've just gotta do my best and see where that gets me."
The tournament comes at a good time for the 18-year-old.
Osmond finished up his HSC exams a week ago and the North West Championships will kick off a busy period.
He'll be trekking down to Victoria before Christmas and in the new year with his training mates including Taya Powell who is the reigning women's North West Championships winner.
The plan is to play as much tennis as possible between now and the middle of the year.
This weekend will be as busy as any. Along with the singles, Osmond will also be defending his doubles crown.
Osmond won the doubles crown last year alongside his brother Andrew.
However, this year Andrew is away which means Osmond will partner Vitorio Sardinha.
Osmond thought they'd make a "pretty solid pair".
"He's [Sardinha] a very solid player. I played him at the club champs earlier in the year. He played very well and I only just beat him," he said.
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