FRESH APPROACH: Princeton High boys’ tennis player Garrett Mathewson makes a return in a recent match. Freshman Mathewson has starred at third singles in his debut campaign as PHS won the Mercer County Tournament and made it to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group 3 final. The fourth-seeded Tigers, who fell 3-2 at second-seeded WW/P-South in the sectional final last Monday, ended the spring with a 14-2 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Garrett Mathewson is just a freshman, but he has brought plenty of savvy to the court for the Princeton High boys’ tennis team.

“I have played since I was very young; my mom was a bit tennis player, she is the one who really got me into the game,” said Mathewson, who took up the game at age five and started playing competitively at age 10. “I have had a long time playing matches. I have a lot of experience — each day I strive to get better.”

Last week, third singles star Mathewson played a very good match as fourth-seeded PHS hosted fifth-seeded WW/P-North in the quarterfinals of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey Group 3 sectional, topping Jayant Venkatesan 6-2, 6-2 as the Tigers prevailed 5-0.

“It was just get in a lot of serves, get in a lot of balls, don’t go for anything crazy but of course step up on the big points,” said Mathewson. “My forehand was pretty good today, I have been working on it a lot. It has gotten pretty good now.”

On Thursday, PHS stepped up again, topping eighth-seeded Hightstown 5-0 in the sectional semis. The squad’s superb run ended last Monday as the Tigers fell 3-2 at second-seeded WW/P-South in the sectional final to end the season at 14-2 with both losses coming to the Pirates.

For Mathewson, joining the PHS program has helped his game as he has gotten to train with first singles star Jonathan Gu and second singles standout Melvin Huang.

“I am playing on a team now, I am used to the individuality,” said Mathewson, who placed second at third singles in the Mercer County Tournament in last April as PHS rolled to the team title. “I hit with Melvin, we have become good friends now. Jonny has been away sometimes but I do get to hit with him sometimes. We have fun playing doubles.”

Despite facing players that can be three or four years older than him, Mathewson has not been intimidated in his debut campaign.

“I don’t really notice too much, whether they are short, tall, strong, fast,” said Mathewson.

PHS head coach Sarah Hibbert realized that her team would need a strong effort to top WW/P-N.

“Last year, it was a sectional final so it is the same matchup two rounds earlier; we knew going in it was going to be a tough draw,” said Hibbert. “Usually you have at least a round where you can get into it; we knew this year we had to go straight into our best tennis. They are a solid team, it was going to be anyone’s match today. We have beaten them before. We knew we had the potential to do it but they were missing one of their players last time so it was a different matchup.”

Mathewson has emerged as a key player for the Tigers this spring.

“It is great having a freshman coming in who already has an all-around tournament game,” said Hibbert. “Being lefty as well, he hits different spins and different patterns that people aren’t as used to.”

In Hibbert’s view, Mathewson has benefitted from hitting with Gu and Huang.

“I think there is still a bit of a learning curve with it, tennis is such an individual sport,” said Hibbert. “They are not used to having people around. They are not used to having somebody who can help them and talk to them. It is good to have this level of tennis so they can all really work on it.”

The first doubles pair of Nikita Medvedev and Shaan Zaveri posted a very good win against WW/P-North, pulling out a 0-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Lukas Karapelou and Prithvi Sunkavelli after having lost them in regular season and MCT contests.

“That was great for them they have lost to that team twice but each time we knew that they could do better,” said Hibbert. “We knew that they were right there. This time, the first set was not great. The thing that they did better this time than the last time was that they were able to turn it around right away. They won the first game of the second set right off the bat. That broke the slide and they were able to go forward from there. It was good serves, good volleys, basic doubles stuff.

The second doubles duo of Aman Kapur and Andrew Kuo posted a straight-set victory as they have emerged as a constant this spring for the Tigers.

“The second doubles did great, they had a different team in there this time from last time,” said Hibbert. “Our team was able to work well together and keep the high level of tennis throughout the match. It has been a solid flight for us.”

At first singles, senior star Gu outlasted Charlie Xiang 6-0, 5-7, 7-6 in a good test as he looks to defend his title in the upcoming state singles tournament.

“I am sure there is always excitement going for a
challenge,” said Hibbert. “He knows it is going to be a tough road this year with several people playing who didn’t play last year.”

Junior standout Huang kept up his hot play at second singles, topping Shiva Tripurana 6-2, 6-3.

“He has added a lot of pace and power to his game,” said Hibbert. “As a freshman, he just kind of kept things in play. He is still consistent, he is a hard working player. It is the same thing with his opponent today, he hit a lot balls today and made him work for it.”

Hibbert was hoping that the Tigers could turn the tables on South after falling 3-2 to the Pirates in a regular season match on May 11 but it wasn’t to be as Gu and Huang posted straight-set wins while Mathewson and the second doubles pair of Kapur and Kuo fell in three-setters.

“I think if we have all of our players in top form, we have got a good shot,” said Hibbert. “It has been a good season overall. Winning counties was a great thing, putting four people into the finals.”

For Mathewson, his freshman season for PHS proved to be a great experience.

“I have has some battles, I have had some wins and some losses,” said Mathewson. “It is all a lot of fun.”