Atalig working with ATP coach

The then 9-year-old Tony Atalig returns a shot to Robbie Schorr during their game in the 2012 Coconut Tennis Classic at the American Memorial Park tennis courts. (Saipan Tribune)

CNMI tennis player Tony Atalig has been training under an Association of Tennis Professionals coach as he braces for high-level tournaments this year.

Atalig, who played in various junior tennis tournaments on island along with her sisters Catherine and Elizaveta Atalig for several years before their family moved to New York in 2015, is working with Luca Melchionna at the Riverside Clay Tennis Association in New York City.

The Italian-American is a C Level International-certified ATP coach and a member of the Global Professional Tennis Coach Association. Melchionna, who is a lawyer by profession, has been with RCTA since 2011 and played in local and regional tournaments in Italy.

“I’ve been working with coach Luca and didn’t get to play in any tournaments prior to the COVID-19 pandemic because I am mainly focusing on training. However, I will be playing in October and onwards,” said Atalig, who used to challenge Pacific Games gold medalists Robbie Schorr and Ken Song during his playing years on Saipan.

The 17-year-old saw action in U10 and U12 tournaments under the Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association and was coached by CNMI Sports Hall of Famer and many-time national team mentor Jeff Race.

“Coach Jeff is great coach and mentor for my development as a player and a person,” Atalig said.

Race is pleased to know that Atalig continues to play tennis and polishes his skills under top-level coaches.

In this 2013 file photo, Tony Atalig, eighth left front row, poses with his fellow CNMI players during the North Pacific Regional Championships at the Pacific Islands Club hard courts. (Contributed Photo)

“His goal is to play college tennis and he is interested in playing for the CNMI National Team in the future,” Race said.

Besides training with Melchionna, Atalig is also planning to travel to Florida next month to work with former Italian pro Claudio Pistolesi.

“I am still in the process of deciding if I am going or not due to the COVID-19 issues there,” Atalig said.

Pistolesi played in ATP Pro Tours for more than a decade before calling it a career, which was highlighted by his participation in four Grand Slam events (Australian, French, and US Open and Wimbledon) and a world ranking as high as No. 71. He is a member of the ATP Player Council and coached notable professional players like French Open two-time finalists Robin Soderling and WTA champion Daniela Hantuchová. However, Pistolesi is best known for coaching Monica Seles during her title win against Anke Huber in the 1996 Australian Open.