Here's that pre-DC press conference I talked about earlier.
Article by Sergei Deryabkin
Louzhniki Sports Complex
Yesterday <now it's two days ago> in the "Louzhniki" a pre-tournament press conference with the Russian team took place. Before the reporters appeared: the captain of the team Shamil Tarpischev, Marat Safin, Mikhail Youzhny, Nikolai Davydenko and Igor Andreev. Following the tradition, the first to speak was the captain Tarpischev, who was in excellent mood:
" The present season proved to be the most successful in the history of our country's tennis. to get even better, it's conclusion will take place on the Russian courts. Now we are hosting the Davis cup tie, in October the Kremlin Cup and the St. Petersbourg Open await us, from 22 to 28 of November in the new complex in Krylatskoe the "Final of the Four" of Fed Cup will take place, in which our young women will attempt to avenge their last year's defeat. Combining this all: this is a "big tennis fall" - a great gift to the tennis fans.
Concerning the upcomming match with the Thai I'd say that we are clear favourites. That is because of our high status (wtf?) and the fact that we are playing at home, which means that we had the right to select the playing surface. Discussing this with the players we stopped on red clay. These were our motives: the leader of our opponents, Paradorn Srichaphan, feels more comfortable playing on faster courts, where the rallies don't last too long. We needed to try and nullify the main advantage of Thai, especially considering the fact that at present the head-to-head of Paradorn and Russian players is roughly equal.
Quite naturally it was pleasnt for me to watch the recent success of our men. The Safin-Youzhny final in Beijing and Andreev's rise to the final in Bukharest tell us that the guys entered the last few months of the season in good form. We shall not hurry tagging Davydenko a "spare player" too. Nikolai is training in Moscow the longest, hence he's the most accustomed to the unique features of the courts.
Question to Safin. "Did you make any conclusions after the last loss to the Belorussians?":
Safin: Ofcourse we would not repeat certain mistakes again, but to tell you the truth , I don't think that in that tie we were the favourites. Our opponents were playing 'at home' chose synthetic court surface, on which Mirnyi and Voltchukov feel themselves great. Therefore I wouldn't like to compare Belarus with Thailand. Thse are two completely different situations.
<!!!!> Surprizingly, no further questions arose from the journalists <
I just love the Russian Press> and the Press Conference came to the end just minutes after it's start.
ANDREEV IS READY TO PLAY AT 100%
At the exit our reporters managed to catch Igor Andreev, who greatly improved his game from last to this season <why couldn't those idiots ask the questions on the press conference!?>.
"Ofcourse. I don't just sit and do nothing - instead, I train actively," explained Andreev, "Plus, I'm siply much more experienced. last year was only my debut year in ATP , but this season you may say that I'm among the equal to me. This gives me confidence, which has great effect on consistency. This is where the good results are from.
Question: You would have to play with Thailand in some unusual conditions: on clay, but indoors. Does that add any inconvenience?
" There Are some minor difficulties concerning this, but they are easily solvable, atleast for me. Ofcourse I could speak about this matter with complete certainty only after my first official match in the Davis Cup- before I only did some training on those courts.
Question: In the last couple of months you performed pretty well pairing Davydenko in doubles. Are you ready to do the same on Saturday, should need arise?
"Definitely. If the captain would think that such a move is neccessary I will to everything I can to bring that victory point to the team."
Question: How long did it take you to forget about the loss to Mirnyi in Minsk, considering the fact that you played him and won just a few months earlier in St. Petersbourg?
"Tennis is a sport in which tournaments follow eachother every week, which simply doesn't leave us time for grievances. If you're worrying too much about one lost match you simply wouldn't be able to prepare for the next. Therefore I tried to pull my conclusions regarding the reasons of that loss and not return to that again.
Question: Do you still spend most of your free time in Spain?
"Yes, although there's now a lot less of that free time we are talking about. Remeber that I'm playing a lot more these days. In addition, i try to come home to Moscow more often, where I can rest psychologically.
Question: what are your plans for the remainder of the season?
" I will play every other week. While I have a lot of energy, why not give it a 100%? Naturaly, I want to rise as high as possible in the ATP standings.
YOUZHNY IS IN BAD CONDITION
Mikhail's coach was as always friendly and was happy to answer all our questions:
Question: How would you rate the physical form of your 'trainee' <sorry I'm tired and can't find a better word now>?
"As a bad one.If you take a five point ranking table, I'll give him a solid 3, without any plus or minus. This was expected, because his peak condition was in August, during the Olympic Games and the US Open. Physical condition is something Mikhail doesn't have at the moment. Plus, he is still disturbed by the hip injury he suffered a while ago.All analysts think that in Beijing Youzhny reached the final only because of his head, cleaver actions on court that is.
Reporter: Isn't that great?
" Yes. When a tennis player, playing not at his best, reaches a final of a tournament that indicates a certain, somethat high, class."
Question: As a coach you probably don't want Youzhny to play against Thailand? It holds a certain risk of aggrevating the injury, and it's unadvisable to change from one surface to another too often....
"Not neccessarily. Davis Cup matches always give a visible advantage. In addition, mikhail is one of those who can switch from hrd surface to clay and then to synthetic courts in a relatively short period of time. But you are right: it'll be harder for him to do here in Moscow, having to run a lot more.
Question: what are your expectation for the end of the season?
"we are planning to play in 5 tournaments, including Moscow and St. Petersbourg. But I'm not going to predict anything. That's unpractical.
Shortly after the Press Conference Nikolai Davydenko left the complex, but our correspondent was able to speak with his brother Eduad, acting as coach.
Question: How serius is the injury, which forced Nikolai to retire from doubles tournament in Bukharest?
"There's nothing serius.He simply has too tired from playing a number of American Series tournaments. Even in US Open he had to play a number of 5 set matches, whcih couldn't pass without leaving a sign.
KAFELNIKOV IS CLOSE BY
Marat Safin left towards the tennis courts right after the short conversation with the press. He was paired by the stand-by Russian player igor Kunitsin, who didn't perform well in tournaments this year. They were watched by the team's coaches Sergei Leoniuk and Yevgeny Kafelnikov.
Safin played with visible enthusiasm. Answering the frequent remarks of bystanders he himself hardly made any errors, and even cheered up Kunitsin everytime the latter sent the ball wide. This can only delight, considering the fact that Safin is a player ruled by his mood. When he enters the court at easy not many can beat him.
Comming to the court Sobkin < don't know him> asked the leader of our team if the court is too soft. Safin could only shrug in answer, continuing the monotonous task of nailing the ball in the opposite court. Leonyuk, on the other hand confirmed that the court is indeed too soft.
Our guests < Thailand>, who as we know don't have any warm feelings towards clay arrived to Moscow only yesterday. their first practice in the unknown court will commence today.
THE END
PS:The video Nelia posted th elink too was about the same PC. This is what Misha added:
"I don't think the guys want to play in the small league. Therefore we will do whatever it takes to win and prove that we're worth something."
PPS:Sorry it took so long to translate.
PPPS: I should add: sorry for my english. Don't know why but everyone says this after translations.
.... it's not like they're asking each player confidential things 
;D
) have a good weekend everyone and best of luck to the Russian DC team! u can do it guys!
