The Last Time With… Ilya Ivashka

Ilya Ivashka won a pair of three-setters to advance to the quarter-finals at the Gonet Geneva Open, including an upset of third seed Denis Shapovalov on Wednesday. It’s the 28-year-old’s second quarter-final showing of the season, after he reached the same stage in Marseille in February.

Before he takes on Portugal’s Joao Sousa on Thursday, get to know more about Ivashka in ATPTour.com’s newest ‘Last Time’ Q&A, adapted from a conversation at Indian Wells in March.

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When was the last time you missed a flight?
I missed one time a flight, maybe five or six years ago. I came to a different terminal. It was the same destination city but a different airline. It was in Seoul. 

It was a completely different part of the airport. I came for boarding, last person, and they told me ‘No, wrong airline.’

When was the last time you lost something important? 
A few days ago I lost my wallet at Chipotle. It was there for two days. Suddenly I realised that I don’t have the wallet after two days. Then my wife called there, and it was still in Chipotle. So I was pretty lucky.

What is your typical Chipotle order?
Always the same. One bowl with a tortilla and everything that they have. I love Chipotle.

When was the last time being a famous tennis player helped you in everyday life?
Never happened. I’m not VIP (smiles). It never worked out like this.

When was the last time you strung your own tennis racquet?
Never.

When was the last time you cooked a meal for yourself?
Not lately. Sometimes I can do a breakfast. I can cook a little bit, but nothing special. Just basic things.

When was the last time you met a childhood idol?
Maybe Andy Murray. I always liked the way he played a lot, and in February we were practising in Rotterdam. I even posted a photo. I have one photo when I was 12 and he was 20, or something like that… and one now.