Mitkova added to Griz Tennis lineup
9/10/2020 4:38:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Don't let the name fool you. Ivayla Mitkova may have been born in Bulgaria, but she's as English as they come – right down to queuing up every summer to watch her idols play on Wimbledon's grass courts with a side of strawberries and cream.
For her, that experience on Henman Hill - feeling the crowds' energy while cheering on the world's best - was a big part of what inspired her to pursue competitive tennis. Her career took off quickly, too, nearly qualifying to play at the All-England Club as a U-14 player after picking the game up soon after moving to East London as a five-year-old.
Now Mitkova takes the next step in making her dream of playing as a pro at SW19 a reality as the newest member of the Montana women's team, and relocated to Missoula in time for the new semester, despite the ongoing global pandemic.
But even with a professional career in her sights, the freshman ace says she's ready to stay grounded embrace everything the college tennis and student-athlete experience has to offer, emphasis on the student.
"Tennis was something I picked up really quickly as a kid, and obviously you want to do something you're good at. I'd love to be able to take it forward. I'm not placing my bets on it, but I'll work toward it while I'm here," said Mitkova.
"I want to play quite high in the lineup here, play as a team and play against other teams – that's very fun. I also want to do well in the classroom. Really just do the best I possibly can all around."
Since arriving in mid-August, she's fit right in as well. A powerful player who represented Essex County in the English U-18 and Senior Cup Finals, Mitkova has already shown UM head coach Steve Ascher she's got the potential to rise to the top of the lineup quickly.
"She's got lots of athleticism. She's really smart, a really crafty player. She's intelligent and knows what she's trying to do on the court, which is cool to see," said Ascher.
In the age of COVID-19 and Zoom calls, recruiting any student-athlete, never mind an international one, can be a tricky proposition. So Ascher says he did his due diligence in communicating as much as possible over video chat before offering Mitkova in the spring.
Since arriving at UM, Ascher says that process has paid off.
"It's exciting because you've talked so much on video you feel like you know them, but now that she's here in person she's exceeding expectations. She's totally cool, loves Missoula. She's self-sufficient, doing lots of individual workouts. We're two weeks in, and I feel like she's been here a year," he said.
But it wasn't a totally smooth recruitment process for either Ascher of Mitkova. In the time between when she committed to be a Grizzly and when she arrived on campus, the world changed due to the pandemic.
With travel shut down and foreign student visas up in the air, there was a time when Mitkova's dream of coming to play tennis in the U.S. may not have happened.
Nothing like the power of positive thought.
"I was not hesitant at all. I was ready to come as soon as I signed. I was more worried I couldn't come because the school wouldn't open. That was my only worry," Mitkova says.
"I love it here, and I feel like this is the right thing for me to do. I've wanted to come to America since I was thirteen or fourteen, so I'm very happy to be here."
For Ascher, that attitude is just another example that he's found the right kind of player to add to a young Montana lineup set to do big things in the spring season.
"She was always in good spirits, which is such an important perspective to have – that positivity. But we didn't know if she'd get her visa cleared because at that time there were travel bans and the embassies weren't open," said Ascher.
"But she stayed positive, and then international students were allowed in, and everything fell into place. It could have been very stressful, but she made it pleasant. The communication was so good that I don't feel like there was any doubt."
That connection with Ascher is one of the main reasons Mitkova chose UM over other opportunities in Alabama, Michigan, and North Carolina. That, and the Montana mountains she'd heard about from fellow Englishman and UM men's team junior Ed Pudney.
"I chose Montana because of the coach. I really like Steve. He's similar to my coach back home. He takes you out of your comfort zone, and it makes you want to push yourself. We have a similar outlook on life too, so I thought that was quite cool that I can have a coach that looks at life like I do," said Mitkova.
"The girls were very nice as well – I felt very welcome. Then there is the school itself and the scenery, and I thought, how could I say no, it's amazing here."
For her, that experience on Henman Hill - feeling the crowds' energy while cheering on the world's best - was a big part of what inspired her to pursue competitive tennis. Her career took off quickly, too, nearly qualifying to play at the All-England Club as a U-14 player after picking the game up soon after moving to East London as a five-year-old.
Now Mitkova takes the next step in making her dream of playing as a pro at SW19 a reality as the newest member of the Montana women's team, and relocated to Missoula in time for the new semester, despite the ongoing global pandemic.
But even with a professional career in her sights, the freshman ace says she's ready to stay grounded embrace everything the college tennis and student-athlete experience has to offer, emphasis on the student.
"Tennis was something I picked up really quickly as a kid, and obviously you want to do something you're good at. I'd love to be able to take it forward. I'm not placing my bets on it, but I'll work toward it while I'm here," said Mitkova.
"I want to play quite high in the lineup here, play as a team and play against other teams – that's very fun. I also want to do well in the classroom. Really just do the best I possibly can all around."
Since arriving in mid-August, she's fit right in as well. A powerful player who represented Essex County in the English U-18 and Senior Cup Finals, Mitkova has already shown UM head coach Steve Ascher she's got the potential to rise to the top of the lineup quickly.
"She's got lots of athleticism. She's really smart, a really crafty player. She's intelligent and knows what she's trying to do on the court, which is cool to see," said Ascher.
In the age of COVID-19 and Zoom calls, recruiting any student-athlete, never mind an international one, can be a tricky proposition. So Ascher says he did his due diligence in communicating as much as possible over video chat before offering Mitkova in the spring.
Since arriving at UM, Ascher says that process has paid off.
"It's exciting because you've talked so much on video you feel like you know them, but now that she's here in person she's exceeding expectations. She's totally cool, loves Missoula. She's self-sufficient, doing lots of individual workouts. We're two weeks in, and I feel like she's been here a year," he said.
But it wasn't a totally smooth recruitment process for either Ascher of Mitkova. In the time between when she committed to be a Grizzly and when she arrived on campus, the world changed due to the pandemic.
With travel shut down and foreign student visas up in the air, there was a time when Mitkova's dream of coming to play tennis in the U.S. may not have happened.
Nothing like the power of positive thought.
"I was not hesitant at all. I was ready to come as soon as I signed. I was more worried I couldn't come because the school wouldn't open. That was my only worry," Mitkova says.
"I love it here, and I feel like this is the right thing for me to do. I've wanted to come to America since I was thirteen or fourteen, so I'm very happy to be here."
For Ascher, that attitude is just another example that he's found the right kind of player to add to a young Montana lineup set to do big things in the spring season.
"She was always in good spirits, which is such an important perspective to have – that positivity. But we didn't know if she'd get her visa cleared because at that time there were travel bans and the embassies weren't open," said Ascher.
"But she stayed positive, and then international students were allowed in, and everything fell into place. It could have been very stressful, but she made it pleasant. The communication was so good that I don't feel like there was any doubt."
That connection with Ascher is one of the main reasons Mitkova chose UM over other opportunities in Alabama, Michigan, and North Carolina. That, and the Montana mountains she'd heard about from fellow Englishman and UM men's team junior Ed Pudney.
"I chose Montana because of the coach. I really like Steve. He's similar to my coach back home. He takes you out of your comfort zone, and it makes you want to push yourself. We have a similar outlook on life too, so I thought that was quite cool that I can have a coach that looks at life like I do," said Mitkova.
"The girls were very nice as well – I felt very welcome. Then there is the school itself and the scenery, and I thought, how could I say no, it's amazing here."
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