Post by Annie on Jun 13, 2005 19:48:51 GMT 3
MARAT SAFIN :"I DON'T LIKE BREAKING RACKETS"
Actually, to tell the truth, my first meeting with Marat Safin was at the end of 1990 in St Petersburg. Back then Marat wasn't well known. But this took place a long time ago, in what is now the last century and neither of us remembered that. And therefore it was necessary to get to get reaquainted.
Our friendship began again in the nice city of Liverpool where Marat had arrived for the Liverpool Tennis tournament. And it turned out that Marat and I were the only Russians present, so we became good friends during the week, seeing Liverpool together.
We even had football in common and played together. One of the players, being bored while waiting for his match to start, found a ball and started to play with it in the players area. There, I got to know Marat as we played together. It's quite a feeling, playing football with the best tennis player in the world. I talked to Marat quite a lot and managed to ask him the following questions:
-By the way, Marat what did you think of Russia's loss in the football world cup?
-Well, I hope, one day we will be able to play as well as the English.
In spite of the fact that Marat spent a lot of time abroad (his parents sent him to Spain to study tennis when he was child), he stayed a Russian at heart. I was pleased to see he didn't behave like a 'super star' the way I've noticed many Russian sportsmen do.
-Marat, it's your first time at the first tennis tournament in Liverpool. What's your opinion of it and how are you feeling?
-It's not bad for a first attempt. It's got a pleasant atmosphere, the organizers have tried their best; these people have done an enormous amount of work. Plus, it's an excellent opportunity to prepare for Wimbledon.
-Do you think that tennis in Liverpool has a future ?
-Well, if they carry on in this spirit, then why not? It will be tough, though, to tell the truth. Liverpool is a city of football, and everything is based on it here.
-And it seems to me, everything is about the Beatles here...
-Yes, it's difficult not to agree. Actually I have great respect for their music. Yesterday I passed in front of where they played...
- The Caven club?
-Yes, I think so, yes...But it was too busy&ldots;&ldots;.
-But what do you think of Liverpool in general?
-It's healthy ! A very hospitable city. I'm very fond of the nightclubs here, but I'm not a party go-er it's part of my nature.
-Is it that you don't see yourself as a sociable person?
-It depends with whom. It's always interesting to communicate with an interesting person. But on the other hand I'm only really myself with my friends.
-If they ask you, will you come again to Liverpool?
-Why not? Here, it's not like Wimbledon, where you are constantly under pressure. Here, I can simply enjoy the tennis. Even if I don't like this surface. I don't like grass.
-Concerning Wimbledon, ( our conversation was held on the eve of the Grand Slam) are you ready for victory?
-Certainly, it wouldn't be bad, and I won't turn down the extra money.
-You don't recognize the proverb "Happiness is not found in money"?
-Quite simply, money gives more opportunities to a person. It's like that nowadays.
-This time you don't have broken rackets or anything...
-Yeah, but you see this time I won. It's just that I don't like to loose and so I breaks rackets. At Wimbledon it's necessary to be more cautious, it's necessary to contain your emotions constantly. It's generally strict there. For example, it's necessary to be dressed all in white.
By the way, when we went to a night club, he was dressed in black a leather raincoat, and black from head to toe.
-Marat, all these constant travels on the world don't deduce from a track, you see exhausting piece?
-Yes but I've got used to it already. Although, if you're not careful, you can be late for your match, but it rarely happens.
-Where do you want to go to have a rest?
-In Scotland. And in the Dominican Republic.
-And by the way our Urals [In Russia], are as good as Scotland, which I have traveled up and down this summer. So, Marat, come to us to have a rest.
2002 the city stagecoach, Chelyabinsk, 2002
www.nns.ru/Person/safin/3.html
Translated By Helena
With help from Ruth
IF YOU WISH TO POST THESE INTERVIEWS ELSE WHERE PLEASE INCLUDE CREDIT FOR ALL TRANSLATORS MENTIONED AND THE GUYFROMRUSSIA URL FOR THE INTERVIEW THANK YOU!!
Actually, to tell the truth, my first meeting with Marat Safin was at the end of 1990 in St Petersburg. Back then Marat wasn't well known. But this took place a long time ago, in what is now the last century and neither of us remembered that. And therefore it was necessary to get to get reaquainted.
Our friendship began again in the nice city of Liverpool where Marat had arrived for the Liverpool Tennis tournament. And it turned out that Marat and I were the only Russians present, so we became good friends during the week, seeing Liverpool together.
We even had football in common and played together. One of the players, being bored while waiting for his match to start, found a ball and started to play with it in the players area. There, I got to know Marat as we played together. It's quite a feeling, playing football with the best tennis player in the world. I talked to Marat quite a lot and managed to ask him the following questions:
-By the way, Marat what did you think of Russia's loss in the football world cup?
-Well, I hope, one day we will be able to play as well as the English.
In spite of the fact that Marat spent a lot of time abroad (his parents sent him to Spain to study tennis when he was child), he stayed a Russian at heart. I was pleased to see he didn't behave like a 'super star' the way I've noticed many Russian sportsmen do.
-Marat, it's your first time at the first tennis tournament in Liverpool. What's your opinion of it and how are you feeling?
-It's not bad for a first attempt. It's got a pleasant atmosphere, the organizers have tried their best; these people have done an enormous amount of work. Plus, it's an excellent opportunity to prepare for Wimbledon.
-Do you think that tennis in Liverpool has a future ?
-Well, if they carry on in this spirit, then why not? It will be tough, though, to tell the truth. Liverpool is a city of football, and everything is based on it here.
-And it seems to me, everything is about the Beatles here...
-Yes, it's difficult not to agree. Actually I have great respect for their music. Yesterday I passed in front of where they played...
- The Caven club?
-Yes, I think so, yes...But it was too busy&ldots;&ldots;.
-But what do you think of Liverpool in general?
-It's healthy ! A very hospitable city. I'm very fond of the nightclubs here, but I'm not a party go-er it's part of my nature.
-Is it that you don't see yourself as a sociable person?
-It depends with whom. It's always interesting to communicate with an interesting person. But on the other hand I'm only really myself with my friends.
-If they ask you, will you come again to Liverpool?
-Why not? Here, it's not like Wimbledon, where you are constantly under pressure. Here, I can simply enjoy the tennis. Even if I don't like this surface. I don't like grass.
-Concerning Wimbledon, ( our conversation was held on the eve of the Grand Slam) are you ready for victory?
-Certainly, it wouldn't be bad, and I won't turn down the extra money.
-You don't recognize the proverb "Happiness is not found in money"?
-Quite simply, money gives more opportunities to a person. It's like that nowadays.
-This time you don't have broken rackets or anything...
-Yeah, but you see this time I won. It's just that I don't like to loose and so I breaks rackets. At Wimbledon it's necessary to be more cautious, it's necessary to contain your emotions constantly. It's generally strict there. For example, it's necessary to be dressed all in white.
By the way, when we went to a night club, he was dressed in black a leather raincoat, and black from head to toe.
-Marat, all these constant travels on the world don't deduce from a track, you see exhausting piece?
-Yes but I've got used to it already. Although, if you're not careful, you can be late for your match, but it rarely happens.
-Where do you want to go to have a rest?
-In Scotland. And in the Dominican Republic.
-And by the way our Urals [In Russia], are as good as Scotland, which I have traveled up and down this summer. So, Marat, come to us to have a rest.
2002 the city stagecoach, Chelyabinsk, 2002
www.nns.ru/Person/safin/3.html
Translated By Helena
With help from Ruth
IF YOU WISH TO POST THESE INTERVIEWS ELSE WHERE PLEASE INCLUDE CREDIT FOR ALL TRANSLATORS MENTIONED AND THE GUYFROMRUSSIA URL FOR THE INTERVIEW THANK YOU!!
