Post by Annie on Jun 13, 2005 19:42:48 GMT 3
Interview With Marat Safin
During Paris Masters Tournament Before Davis Cup 2002
On court, the man runs faster than his shadow. In real life, Marat Safin, spearhead of the Russian team, is never at a loss for words. Without any restraint, and very openly, the recent winner of the BNP Paribas Masters did a small 'acrostic interview' before the finale&ldots;
[the journalist says a word or phrase, each beginning with a sequential letter of the alphabet, and Marat says the first thing that comes into his mind]
Napoléon is the first name that comes to his mind in reference to our country, and he doesn't hide his admiration for the French team..
C : Clé de la Finale (K : Key to the final)
"We are going to focus on their physical state. I think it will be the key element of the tie. It's the end of the season, everybody wants to go on holiday.. but before that, everybody wants to win. Mentally, it will be very difficult, as it is always at the end of the year. It's the physical status that will help us keep a good mental state, because it enables us to stay clear-minded, which is very important for concentration."
C : Coupe Davis (D : Davis Cup)
" A goal "
D : Doubles against Argentina
" It was a strange match. It was not a good day for us, we missed everything we tried. The errors were coming from both sides, it wasn't a high level of tennis. I was happy when it was over!"
E : Equipe de France (F : French team)
"It's a team, a real one! And that's why it is so strong. The players always stick together, not only for Davis Cup, but also on the tour. They are always together, and they are a real group of friends. It's easier to get a good atmosphere when playing with your friends and it helps to lower the pressure. I know them all, not very well, but they seem very cool."
E : Espagne (S : Spain)
" One of the best places to become a professional tennis player. If I hadn't been to Spain, I wouldn't be where I am today. I stayed there from the age of 14 till I was 21 years old."
E : Evoluer à l'extérieur : ( P : Playing abroad)
" It's difficult, because the crowd is against you. But, when it is not its own fans, we don't care about what they think! But there is less pressure in a foreign country. If we lose, we lose, if we win, that's great! But I prefer playing at home."
F : Finales Russes (R : Russian finales) : 1994 (loss against Sweden) and 1995 (loss against US)
"I was in Spain, practicing to become a professional player. I didn't see any point"
F : France
"Napoléon" (laughter)
G : Grosjean
"Number 1 French player. He is quick, serves well, even if he is not very tall. He has a very good forehand and he is very clever"
H : Hobbies :
"I love football (soccer), I love cinema. I also like parties, but I'm getting old (laughter). When I go out, now it's difficult for me to recover the day after. But, when I'm on holiday, yes, I love going out, having a drink, having fun with my friends. We only have one life, I'm 22, and these are the best years of my life. There is a time for work and a time for holidaying!"
J : Jouer à domicile (P : Playing at home)
"It is very nice, but also difficult because the pressure is very important. Everybody expects victory, to lose is not allowed. The problem is that nowadays, a high level is expected, anybody can win any match. But in Russia, the mentality is different. If you want to understand it, you have to read the Russian classics!"
K : Kafelnikov
"He is the second boss of the team (editor's note : after Tarpischev). We are not very good friends (editor's note : in his interview, Kafelnikov says the exact opposite..). There is big age difference between us. We don't have the same interests. But we have a good relationship. He deals with his problems, stays with his friends and I stay with mine. But when we have to be together for 'business', like for Davis Cup, we are conscientious, professionals, and we do our best to make Russia win."
P : Paris
"A city of dreams...."
R : Relève ( R : the relief) [
?]
"First, we have very good female players. There are about 10 players in the top 100, and 2 of them played in the Masters. The others are good fighters, and they have a very good technique. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about boys. There is only Kafelnikov, Youzhny, Stoliarov and myself. The problem is that there is no junior showing off. It's a pity because the country has lots of potential, a very good infrastructure, but they can't make good champions."
R : Russia
'Many tennis fans come to attend the Davis Cup matches. There are many courts in Russia, and more and more people take their rackets and hit the ball. It's really nice, because a few years ago, tennis didn't even exist in our country. People were not interested in that sport, that was far behind football and hockey. But nowadays, Yevgeny and I manage to put tennis among the important sports. Of course we are still behind football, even if Russian football is going through hard times.."
S: Spartak Moscow
"Don't talk to me about it, I'm going to cry.....;!!"
S : Santoro
[waiting a little bit] "An ex-problem!! He retired, no??? (laughter)? I'm getting experienced, but the problem with Santoro comes from my first match against him. It was a weird match, and since then, I usually think too much when I play against him. I always think about this first match. But I defeated him once, it means I can do it again. It's not a tennis problem but a psychological one. But now I think I got over this problem. Well, I hope...."
T : Tarpischev
"The Boss"
T: Terre battue (C: Clay)
" A nice surface for everybody.. "
Translated by Violaine
(with a smidge of help from Ruth)
During Paris Masters Tournament Before Davis Cup 2002
On court, the man runs faster than his shadow. In real life, Marat Safin, spearhead of the Russian team, is never at a loss for words. Without any restraint, and very openly, the recent winner of the BNP Paribas Masters did a small 'acrostic interview' before the finale&ldots;
[the journalist says a word or phrase, each beginning with a sequential letter of the alphabet, and Marat says the first thing that comes into his mind]
Napoléon is the first name that comes to his mind in reference to our country, and he doesn't hide his admiration for the French team..
C : Clé de la Finale (K : Key to the final)
"We are going to focus on their physical state. I think it will be the key element of the tie. It's the end of the season, everybody wants to go on holiday.. but before that, everybody wants to win. Mentally, it will be very difficult, as it is always at the end of the year. It's the physical status that will help us keep a good mental state, because it enables us to stay clear-minded, which is very important for concentration."
C : Coupe Davis (D : Davis Cup)
" A goal "
D : Doubles against Argentina
" It was a strange match. It was not a good day for us, we missed everything we tried. The errors were coming from both sides, it wasn't a high level of tennis. I was happy when it was over!"
E : Equipe de France (F : French team)
"It's a team, a real one! And that's why it is so strong. The players always stick together, not only for Davis Cup, but also on the tour. They are always together, and they are a real group of friends. It's easier to get a good atmosphere when playing with your friends and it helps to lower the pressure. I know them all, not very well, but they seem very cool."
E : Espagne (S : Spain)
" One of the best places to become a professional tennis player. If I hadn't been to Spain, I wouldn't be where I am today. I stayed there from the age of 14 till I was 21 years old."
E : Evoluer à l'extérieur : ( P : Playing abroad)
" It's difficult, because the crowd is against you. But, when it is not its own fans, we don't care about what they think! But there is less pressure in a foreign country. If we lose, we lose, if we win, that's great! But I prefer playing at home."
F : Finales Russes (R : Russian finales) : 1994 (loss against Sweden) and 1995 (loss against US)
"I was in Spain, practicing to become a professional player. I didn't see any point"
F : France
"Napoléon" (laughter)
G : Grosjean
"Number 1 French player. He is quick, serves well, even if he is not very tall. He has a very good forehand and he is very clever"
H : Hobbies :
"I love football (soccer), I love cinema. I also like parties, but I'm getting old (laughter). When I go out, now it's difficult for me to recover the day after. But, when I'm on holiday, yes, I love going out, having a drink, having fun with my friends. We only have one life, I'm 22, and these are the best years of my life. There is a time for work and a time for holidaying!"
J : Jouer à domicile (P : Playing at home)
"It is very nice, but also difficult because the pressure is very important. Everybody expects victory, to lose is not allowed. The problem is that nowadays, a high level is expected, anybody can win any match. But in Russia, the mentality is different. If you want to understand it, you have to read the Russian classics!"
K : Kafelnikov
"He is the second boss of the team (editor's note : after Tarpischev). We are not very good friends (editor's note : in his interview, Kafelnikov says the exact opposite..). There is big age difference between us. We don't have the same interests. But we have a good relationship. He deals with his problems, stays with his friends and I stay with mine. But when we have to be together for 'business', like for Davis Cup, we are conscientious, professionals, and we do our best to make Russia win."
P : Paris
"A city of dreams...."
R : Relève ( R : the relief) [
?]"First, we have very good female players. There are about 10 players in the top 100, and 2 of them played in the Masters. The others are good fighters, and they have a very good technique. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about boys. There is only Kafelnikov, Youzhny, Stoliarov and myself. The problem is that there is no junior showing off. It's a pity because the country has lots of potential, a very good infrastructure, but they can't make good champions."
R : Russia
'Many tennis fans come to attend the Davis Cup matches. There are many courts in Russia, and more and more people take their rackets and hit the ball. It's really nice, because a few years ago, tennis didn't even exist in our country. People were not interested in that sport, that was far behind football and hockey. But nowadays, Yevgeny and I manage to put tennis among the important sports. Of course we are still behind football, even if Russian football is going through hard times.."
S: Spartak Moscow
"Don't talk to me about it, I'm going to cry.....;!!"
S : Santoro
[waiting a little bit] "An ex-problem!! He retired, no??? (laughter)? I'm getting experienced, but the problem with Santoro comes from my first match against him. It was a weird match, and since then, I usually think too much when I play against him. I always think about this first match. But I defeated him once, it means I can do it again. It's not a tennis problem but a psychological one. But now I think I got over this problem. Well, I hope...."
T : Tarpischev
"The Boss"
T: Terre battue (C: Clay)
" A nice surface for everybody.. "
Translated by Violaine
(with a smidge of help from Ruth)
