Composure appeared to be the key, and that’s the first thing Slavi Fildish talked about after rallying to defeat Steve Jacobs in Thursday’s Class 5A tennis tournament.
“I have a lot of respect for Steve and I’m glad I caught myself,” said Fildish, a Green Mountain senior, after his 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 No. 1 singles quarterfinal win over the Rampart senior. “I really almost lost my composure, but after that I played solid.”
Fildish’s first-set tantrum was over a Jacobs’ call near the sideline at Gates Tennis Center. Officials are not required to witness state matches, but one was called in after the disagreement. Jacobs went on to win the first set while Fildish seemed more worried about staring down Jacobs’ fans than returning his opponent’s volleys.
After the last point of the first set, Fildish slammed a ball into the net and received a warning from the official. But his terse nature ended there, about the same time his dominance began.
“If I had stayed mad, I definitely would not have won. It would have been over in 20 minutes,” Fildish said. “But I didn’t. I got over it and played well.”
Fildish is looking to win his third straight singles title. He won the No. 3 crown as a sophomore and No. 2 as a junior. He’ll face Boulder sophomore Calix van Lier in today’s semifinals.
“He’s a tough player and we’re not the best of friends, so I really want to beat him,” Fildish (16-1) said of van Lier.
Jacobs played six sets Thursday. He won his first match in a little more than three hours over Littleton’s Jordan Wasden, who fell 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (8-6).
“No excuses,” said Jacobs, who finished fourth here a year ago. “I’m kind of tired after six sets, and (Fildish) got pumped up after the line call that he thought was in. But I played as well as I could. Good luck to him.”
The youngest No. 1 singles participant, freshman Jordan Bridge of Grand Junction, also will play in today’s semifinals. Bridge got past Northglenn senior Ricky Stowell in three sets before defeating Regis junior Erik Kreutzer in two.
Bridge will face Cherry Creek’s Doug Mayeda, who won his first-round and quarterfinal matches in straight sets. Mayeda gave Fildish his only loss this year and leads the Bruins, who advanced all three of their singles players into the semifinals.
A three-hour rain delay began before quarterfinals doubles could be completed.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5453 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
