PHS product sees improved fitness as key to title chase
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Ilia Shatashvili reached his second straight men’s open singles finals at the James E. Cryan Memorial Tennis Tournament.
The Princeton High School graduate is still looking for his first open singles title after falling to Punch Maleka, 6-0, 6-2, Saturday in a rematch of last year’s final, but reaching the finals was encouraging and also motivating to get on a more regular fitness regimen.
”I felt pretty good considering the fact that I’ve been going into the office in New York and then coming back on the train and playing my matches right away and I haven’t really been training,” Shatashvili said. “My warm-ups to this tournament were the few events I played in and got injured in. Even in this tournament, I could feel it. In the finals my hip flexors were bothering me. But I felt good about it after not really training much and working the daily grind in the office.”
This year’s Cryan tournament showed him that he is still capable of playing at a high level though the 26-year-old is hoping that some improved fitness can bring him a title.
”I think I have a lot of mileage on my body,” said Shatashvili, who is hoping that a recently completed move to New York that practically eliminates any commuting time will free him to train a bit more.
”At this point, I just want to be healthy,” Shatashvili said. “After playing a tournament, I don’t feel healthy. At this point, my goal is to maintain good fitness.
”I need to find my form and fitness and good health. I’m in good form when I get to the finals, but I’m not in good health.”
He lost to Maleka, who is 35 years old. Shatashvili marvels at the condition he is in as he tries to envision still playing at a high level in another decade.
”I love the game,” Shatashvili said. “I’m sure I’m going to be playing into my 30s. I’d be very happy if I was playing at his level. The one advantage he has is tennis is pretty much his career. He’s playing tournaments on weekends and teaches and coaches during the week. I’ve been working in business, and my tennis is something I try to sneak it in in after hours.”
Shatashvili wishes he could train more for tournaments like the Cryan, a special tournament that is close to home in Mercer County Park. Training more and playing more would help him keep his game at a high level.
”During the week, because of my schedule, I’m only finished by 6 or 7 o’clock at night,” Shatashvili said. “Anyone at my level is probably a college player and had their practice already and have 10 other guys to practice with, and in our area, there are not many to hit with. The ones that would be available have already hit by 6 or 7.
”During the week, generally I’ll teach a lesson or two and that doesn’t help my game, but I love teaching and seeing the younger generation improve and I love seeing my students do well in their tournaments. In the weekend, I’ll try to play, so I get out once a week or twice a week.”
Shatashvili had also reached the finals last year and lost to Maleka in three sets. This year, the points went more Maleka’s way.
”Even though the score may not have been as close, in the key moments I made a few more errors and he played them better,” Shatashvili said. “And talking to people after the match, I think the quality of the match was good. People still thought it was a good match.”
Shatashvili doesn’t play too many tournaments in a year, but he tends to do well in the ones that he enters. He is looking forward to playing in the singles U.S. Open National Playoffs in New Haven, Conn., today through Sunday. He comes off a Cryan tournament in which he was tested at several points going into finals before finishing second.
”I’m not dissatisfied with my performance,” Shatashvili said. “I played some strong guys in the quarterfinals and semifinals. I am disappointed that I didn’t jump over that hurdle in the finals, but that Punch Maleka hurdle is a high one. The goal is always to win, but I’m not unhappy with my performance.”
Shatashvili feels that he will have a better chance if he trains more. He is looking to improve his fitness as much as keep his game up.
”I am disappointed that I feel like my body by the end of the tournament, I feel like I need to take a week off,” he said. “It’s difficult to sit on my butt in a chair in the office for 10 hours and be as spry as I was. That’s the most frustrating part. I’m happy with the way I’m playing. As I get deeper in the tournament, my body isn’t holding up.
”I’m hoping next year off of what I learned this year, I’ll be able to compete again and play at a higher level. Whatever Punch is doing, I’ll seek his advice. He’s a very nice guy. We stay in touch. I see him all the time in tournaments.”
Too often, Shatashvili’s road to the title is blocked by Maleka. It was at the U.S. Open qualifier he played in earlier. The only other tournament he played in was the U.S. Men’s Nationals in November.
”I play in three or four tournaments a year and some exhibition and fundraiser events,” Shatashvili said.
Shatashvili and Princeton University’s Lindsay Graf won the U.S. Open qualifier in mixed doubles. They could get a wild card draw to the U.S. Open if they win four rounds at the next level, but the tournament conflicts with the PU women’s tennis team’s trip abroad that comes just once every four years.
”Other than that, I’ll try to play inn the U.S. Men’s Nationals at Flushing Meadows,” Shatashvili said. “You get a gold ball if you’re national champion. I have a silver.”
Ilia Shatashvili took another runner-up finish in the Cryan tournament, but he isn’t giving up in his chase of the top spot.
”Next year,” Shatashvili said, “I’ll be back and try to give it another shot.”