First-Time Winner Spotlight: Ilya Ivashka

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Belarusian Ilya Ivashka dropped just one set all week en route to this first ATP Tour title at the Winston-Salem Open.

The 27-year-old was in dominant form in North Carolina, dropping a total of just five games in his semi-final and championship match, after surviving a second-round scare against Marin Cilic.

ATPTour.com caught up with Ivashka after he lifted his maiden trophy in Winston-Salem

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What does it mean to you to win your first ATP Tour title?
It means everything for me because this is something that I have dreamed of as a kid, and it doesn’t matter which event it was, it was just to win an ATP title, so I am super happy with this. I have been working for this for many years and I am happy this happened this week.

You have recently earned victories over Top 20 players Gael Monfils (Tokyo), Grigor Dimitrov (Washington) and now Pablo Carreno Busta here in Winston-Salem. How much confidence did these wins give you heading into the tournament and the final today?
It was coming from the beginning of the year, that I had a lot of good matches with the top guys. Sometimes I was winning, sometimes I was losing. But every week I was there fighting with them, which gave me a lot of confidence. The more you have these matches, the more I feel strong in the tournaments.

Currently at a career-high No. 63 in the FedEx ATP Rankings and set to climb further, how happy are you with where your game is at the moment?
I am very happy about my game. In previous tournaments, I thought the results were okay, but I was not happy with my game. This week, I really implemented what I had worked on with my coach. I had a really good statistic with my serve in the last four matches. The work is paying off.

Before your run here, you had never reached the final at an ATP Tour event. Having dropped just one set en route to the championship match in Winston-Salem, what do you think was the key behind your breakthrough this week?
The key was the second match. I was almost flying to New York because I was losing 3-5, 0/30 in the second set, and I was trying to fight to stay in. After this, things changed dramatically. I then started to play better after I got that break I didn’t lose my serve once again in the whole tournament.

Before winning the title this week, your first semi-final appearance at a tour-level event came in Marseille in 2018. How much have you grown as a player and a person since then?
A lot of things have happened. I came through at qualifying, but my tennis was not good. I had many many injuries that happened to me, but I think I am more mature In the game now.

Could you take a moment to acknowledge some of the key figures in your life and career who have helped you to reach this milestone?
My coach Jose Checa Calvo, my wife, my fitness coach and of course my family, my dad, my mum and my brother. There is also one person in Belarus, a sponsor for the tennis federation for many years. I think without him it wouldn’t be possible because he helped in all of the parts of my career since I was 17. He provided a lot of financial help, which was a big moment in Belarus for tennis.

How would you describe yourself as a player, and how would you describe yourself off the court? Does your on-court attitude extend off the tennis court as well?
I try to be different on court. Off court I am quite calm whereas on court I am trying to be more aggressive to fight for every point. When I am outside the court I am more relaxed and calm.

What do you consider to be your biggest passions outside of tennis and can you tell us a little bit about those interests?
I love to watch football, enjoy watching the Premier League. My favourite team is Arsenal, but I don’t want to speak about them now as they are doing badly. I really loved them many years ago when they were fighting for trophies, but something went wrong with the management.

You’re the first Belarusian ATP Tour singles titlist since 2003, so how important is it to you to represent your country and inspire future generations as Max Mirnyi did for your generation?
It is a special feeling. I remember when I was watching him play in the Davis Cup, in big matches in Russia, he was playing five sets and battling. He was also a role model, so professional outside of the court, so he was an inspiration for many kids at the time.

This is a milestone moment in your career. How will you celebrate this victory?
I may grab some beers, but nothing special as I am going to play in New York on Tuesday. I think we will celebrate after that.