Slavi Fildish loves to play tennis on a big stage.
“I like the fans watching,” Fildish said after he wrapped up the Class 5A Region 4 No. 1 singles title with a marathon three-hour match against Rocky Mountain sophomore Will Vasos. “I like to play in front of a crowd.”
Fildish won the regional championship match 7-5, 5-7, 6-3. The match held up the rest of the tournament for an hour before Fildish was able to wrap up the victory in front of several spectators.
The Green Mountain senior will get to play in front of even a bigger crowd at the 5A boys’ tennis state championships at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at Gates Tennis Center in Denver.
Fildish has had plenty of success at the state tournament. He took third at No. 3 singles as a freshman. Fildish won the No. 3 singles title in 2003 and No. 2 singles title in 2004. The lefty will be eyeing a third straight singles title, but this time at No. 1 singles.
“There is a lot more publicity,” Fildish said of playing at No. 1 singles. “Even at No. 2 or No. 3 singles you don’t get nearly the attention as you do at No. 1 singles. It’s been fun dealing with the pressure.”
Former teammates Vincent Pietro and Ayhan Oray occupied the No. 1 singles spot since Fildish was a freshman. With the graduation of Pietro two years ago and Oray graduating after taking third last season at No. 1 singles, the job is now Fildish’s.
“I’ve always had Vince and Ayhan my whole life,” Fildish said. “At first, it was a little tough without them.”
One concern for Fildish heading into the season was not having a teammate up to his caliber to practice with. He started hitting with some of the better adult players in the area and said that a few of his teammates did improve to provide good practices.
Fildish will be the lone Ram at the state tournament. He will begin his road to the No. 1 single title against Monarch senior Cody MacIntrye. There is a good chance that the lefty will face Rampart senior Steve Jacobs, who took fourth last year at No. 1 singles, in the second round.
“I have to be consistent with my forehand,” Fildish said. “I have to win easy points. My serve has to be on like it has at state the past two years.”
Fildish describe his booming serve like a crutch that he has always been able to fall back on.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The Class 5A state boys’ tennis tournament will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at Gates Tennis Center in Denver. The semifinals will be played at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 21. The finals are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22.