Tennis

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Rivals hoping for armistice

Mostkov, Ismath would rather face unfamiliar foes

By: Allan Besson / On the Home Front

Posted: 07/19/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Junior tennis aces Igal Mostkov (left) and Muzeen Ismath will be facing tough competition. (DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

You'll need to excuse Igal Mostkov if he doesn't want to play Muzeem Ismath in the early rounds of the Canadian Mid-West Under-18 international tennis tournament this week at the Winnipeg Lawn Tennis Club.

It's the first international tennis tournament held in Winnipeg since the 1999 Pan Am Games, and you bet it's a big deal. You see, it's not all that often that Mostkov gets the opportunity to take on an internationally-ranked player from another country, and since he and Ismath are ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in Manitoba, a change is a welcome thing.

"This summer we trained a lot together, and we try and get on the court three or four times a week. We train usually two hours a day and push each other," explained Mostkov. "This is an ITF tournament, so I hope to play an international player first."

Of course, the Israel-born 17-year-old would welcome the chance to face his pal at the end of the tournament, in the final. "Later on! Oh, yeah, for sure, and if we do, it will be a very tight, close match."

The tournament is the third leg of a western Canadian tour for the International Tennis Federation, and is open to both boys and girls in singles and doubles.

Currently registered players represent Brazil, Germany, Great Britain, Russia and Sweden, as well as players from Canada and the United States.

Ismath, 18, didn't take umbrage with Mostkov's reluctance to play him early. In fact, he pretty much agreed with his training partner. "This is a high-quality tournament," he said, explaining that in Winnipeg, top-calibre competition can be pretty hard to come by. "I expect good matches and good competition and to gain more experience as I extend my career."

Ismath, like Mostkov, is dead serious about his game. "Next year I am going to Gonzaga University (in Spokane) to play on their tennis team, on an athletic and academic scholarship. That's what I have been working towards as a junior."

He said that when he does get the opportunity to go up against new and unknown high-calibre competition, it all comes down to preparation. "It's all about the way you train. You need a good work ethic. I put in six days a week, usually. You can't have everything handed to you, so you have to find a way. If you want it bad enough you will get it."

Mostkov's grandfather Gregory, is his inspiration. "He introduced me to tennis, and he still pushes me. He is why the sport got stuck with me along the way."

Mostkov will be heading into Grade 12 next fall, so scholarships are not yet in place. However, he's not letting any grass grow under his feet. "I am starting to talk to schools, but I will do my big thing in August (when he turns 18). I have my video on YouTube, and I just need to send emails to coaches and see how they respond to it."

Mostkov's philosophy for preparing to face someone unknown, is also preparation, and relishing in the anticipation. "It's that waiting to see who you are playing that pushes you. You hope to play a guy who is better than you, and that you can do well against.

"You have to be in good physical shape," he adds. "As long as you are in good shape, you can stay in the points longer and you can break them mentally."

Both Mostkov and Ismath are in the main draw, so they don't need to qualify. However, the official first-round draw won't be known until today, and serious action is scheduled to begin today at 4 p.m. To see the complete draw go to (www.JoinTheTour.com).

allan.besson@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 19, 2010 C5

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