Ashley Fitzsimmons sometimes starts her tennis matches off slowly.
The Walden Grove junior likes to warm up as long as possible. Then, as the match wears on and she gets more reps, she begins to catch the flow of the game and her play sharpens.
βIn the middle of the season, she had a couple matches where she got down,β said Timothy Fitzsimmons, her father and Walden Grove's girls tennis coach said. βYou know, she gets a little kick in the rear and all of a sudden she caught on fire.β
Ashley Fitzsimmons didnβt have to think long when her father asked about how frequent it happens.
βA lot of matches are like that,β she said with a laugh.
This midseason trend is metaphoric for the year Fitzsimmons has been having. After struggling a bit in the middle of the season, she is beginning to see her best tennis being played at the perfect time: The postseason.
Fitzsimmons was not seeded going into the Division III singles state tournament and ended up playing the No. 6 seed in the first round. But Fitzsimmons upset her in a three-set match, and won the next two rounds in straight sets on her way to her first quarterfinal berth.
Fitzsimmons also helped Walden Grove to a first-round win on Wednesday when they defeated Scottsdale Prep 7-2 in the teams state tournament. Fitzsimmons beat Jillian North 6-0, 6-4 and teamed up with Nataly Cordova for an 8-3 win in doubles.
βSheβs had a good run,β coach Fitzsimmons said.
Fitzsimmonsβ opponent in the quarterfinals on Friday is a familiar one: Emily Lopez of Amphitheater. The two have met multiple times, including the third round of last yearβs singles tournament when Lopez won 6-2, 6-3.
βIβm kind of nervous and excited to play her because sheβs really good,β Fitzsimmons said. βI feel like, when I play her, I could play better, because she gives me a challenge and I want to try and do as best I can and she makes me actually play harder and she makes me be a better player.β
For Fitzsimmons, sheβs fully embraced this underdog role she has taken in this state singles tournament.
βI kind of like being the underdog,β she said. βIt's kind of like a surprise, because people might think that, because Iβm not seeded, I might not be as good as they are.β
And for her father, well itβs safe to say heβs enjoyed getting a chance to play both coach and dad.
βItβs been an incredible amount of fun,β Fitzsimmons said. βI kind of fell into the position at the start of her sophomore year. And actually, my daughter kind of talked me into it and said 'Hey, why donβt you do it dad.ββ
He admits it can be tough to draw a line between the two, but he and Ashley also have an understanding that he is going to be tougher than most other coaches would be. Still, Ashley likes having her father around as head coach.
βItβs really fun,β she said. βI can do some stuff that I couldnβt if he wasnβt my coach. When sometimes I need help, he can just open the court and we can go play.β
Her father jokingly added, βIt's convenient.β
So is the timing of Ashley hitting her stride.
POSTSEASON GLANCE
BOYS TENNIS
DIVISION II STATE TOURNAMENT
First-round results
No. 1 Catalina Foothills 5, No. 16 Surprise Willow Canyon 0
No. 2 Pusch Ridge Christian 5, No. 15 Canyon del Oro 0
No. 6 Salpointe Catholic 5, No. 11 Chandler Prep 0
No. 8 Nogales 5, No. 9 Scottsdale Notre Dame 0
No. 4 Mesa Skyline 5,Β No. 13 Rincon/University 2
Second round β Tuesday, 3 p.m.
No. 8 Nogales at No. 1 Catalina Foothills
No. 7 Phoenix Thunderbird vs. No. 2 Pusch Ridge Christian at El Conquistador
No. 6 Salpointe Catholic at No. 3 Buckeye Verrado
DIVISION III STATE TOURNAMENT
First-round results
No. 9 Desert Christian beats No. 8 Tanque Verde by forfeit
Second round β Tuesday, 3 p.m.
No. 9 Desert Christian at No. 1 Scottsdale Prep
GIRLS TENNIS
DIVISION II STATE TOURNAMENT
First-round results
No. 1 Catalina Foothills 5,Β No. 16 Mesa Skyline 0
No. 3 Salpointe Catholic 5, No. 14 Glendale Cactus 0
No. 5 Rincon/University 6, No. 12 Buckeye Verrado 0
No. 8 Nogales 5, No. 9 Phoenix Country Day 0
No. 7 Page 5, No. 10 Douglas 0Β
No. 11 Sabino 5, No. 6 Yuma Gila Ridge 2
Second round β Wednesday, 3 p.m.
No. 8 Nogales at No. 1 Catalina Foothills
No. 11 Sabino vs.Β No. 3 Salpointe Catholic at Tucson Racquet Club
No. 5 Rincon/University at No. 4 Buckeye
DIVISION III STATE TOURNAMENT
First-round results
No. 8 Walden Grove 7,Β No. 9 Scottsdale Prep 2
No. 7 Benson 5,Β No. 10 St. David 0
No. 2 Miami 5,Β No. 15 Tanque Verde 2
Second round β Wednesday, 3 p.m.
No. 8 Walden Grove at No. 1 Safford
