Post by Annie on Jun 13, 2005 19:54:58 GMT 3
Sports - Express December 2002
Interview with Marat's physio, Anatoly Glebov.
Physicians and massage trainers who work with the stars of extra-class are usually in the shadow of those they care for. However, their role in athletes’ achievements can’t be underestimated. We hope that it’s going to be interesting to our readers to find out what think about the upcoming match, and not only that, the specialists of world class – Anatoly Glebov, massage trainer of Marat Safin, and Sergey Yasnitzky – physician of Eugeny Kafelnikov.
Glebov is irreplaceable for Russia’s team. Not accidentally he’s deemed to be not only a high-class massage trainer, but also a good psychologist. Actually, it can’t be otherwise. Indeed, when a tennis player lies down on the massage table he literally gives his body into Glebov’s hands. How’s then without psychology?
- What are the consequences for the match being that late in the season?
- The guys are feeling a bit tired. Since Marat is younger he recovers faster, because at his age metabolism is better and no problems with overweight arise. Nevertheless, his season has turned out to be pretty intense. In January he reached the final of Australian Open, after there was semi-final of Roland Garros. And just recently, Safin, thanks God, has won a major competition in “Bercy”. For now his condition is stabilized, but the final of Davis Cup in December is still a hard test. But our guys are fine fellows. Genya (Yevgeny) was preparing great in Monte-Carlo where he was training 2 times a day. For sake of country’s prestige he’s ready to give it all, to give away everything for the last.
- When did you start working with Safin permanently?
- Last summer.
- What impression does he make on you?
- Many treat Safin with prejudice, they think that he’s overly extravagant. However, it’s not like that. Safin is a normal guy, though he wouldn’t open up with everyone. One needs to find an approach to him. By his character Marat is kind, sympathetic, with a nice sense of humour. Lately, he reeds a lot of contemporary writers – Veller, Sorokin.
- Any problems with his attitude towards schedule and healthcare?
- I know from my own experience that young players almost always treat themselves not as seriously as they should. But when injuries come along “their brains get cleaned up” (literal translation). Marat himself asked me to help him. After the peak in the beginning of 2001 he sprained his back muscle. Now, after I have worked with him, he understood that even at his age it’s necessary to maintain his body: take vitamins and minerals, stretch, undergo certain procedures.
(Part of interview omitted as of no relevance)
- Is there any specificity of work with Safin?
- I wouldn’t say so. But after 20 years of my career I can count with the fingers of a single hand the athletes with such distinctive motion and muscular features as Marat has. They are Nikolay Gulyaev, the Olympic champion in field skating, the football forward of “Milan” – Andrei Shevchenko, and Safin. By the way, Marat could make good results in any sport, for example in bicycle racing and soccer. He’s very soft (referring to muscles), flexible and at the same time, mobile and powerful, his muscles separate easily from the bone. With such people it’s easy to work. But Kafelnikov, oppositely, has very thick and squelchy muscles. I’m, to admit it, surprised that during his lengthy career Genya practically managed to avoid serious injuries. In this regard he’s a phenomenon.
- In January at the Australian Open semifinal Safin at first hopelessly was loosing, but after the rain break he suddenly changed. What then happened?
- A pretty banal situation. Marat took off his shirt at the warm-up. But the Australian sun is very radioactive , I yet knew it from the experience with Andrey Medvedev. I advised Safin to get dressed, but he didn’t listen. As a result it got to him. As we say, he took too much sun on him. At some point, he just passed out. And then it started raining, which hugely helped Safin. Haas got, I think, simply overmassaged during the break. Thomas’ masseur worked with him 30-40 minutes. But I for 15 minutes just released the tension from Marat’s muscles, elevated their tonus as they do it in track and field. Plus, supported the guy, convinced him that now he’ll start serving and everything will come right. And indeed he got concentrated, became more confident. Although, I don’t consider myself a great contribution to his victory. I just did my job.
- In the process of preparing to this final do you take any special measures?
- We had only two weeks. Of course, we managed to clean some things up, but in principle, it’s not enough time to seriously prepare for such an important match. The important thing now – not getting injured. The guys simply have to demonstrate all their skills on the court. We now have about the same team as the Germans had in the times when Boris Becker and Michael Shtikh were playing for them. Their captain Nick Pilic had a problem of how to balance these two bright personalities in order to create a normal psychological climate in the team. Our captain has approximately the same problem. Because Genya and Marat are totally different people. Not to say that they’re very amicable (friendly), but treat each other well, which already is good. In tennis, an individual type of sport, players sometimes have very peculiar relationships. But they have pretty normal one.
- And what is the difference between Eugueniy and Marat?
- Safin, as I say, is from “generation Pepsi” – young, likes to have fun. Kafelnikov is more reasonable. Their 6 year age gap is in evidence.
- How well are Kafelnikov and Safin ready for the final physically?
- Marat – very well. But Genya could compensate his lagging behind in “physique” with his huge experience. He knows how to act in such matches. A recent example – the match against Gaston Gaudio in the semi-final with Argentina, when Kafelnikov saved himself being in a desperate situation. In general, if Genya had such legs as Marat, then with his understanding and knowledge of tennis he would be number one for at least 5 years. However, Kafelnikov must always keep up a good physical form, and in his age it’s already difficult. By the way, I simply cannot imagine how can 31-year old Sampras, and especially 32-year old Agassi maintain such an excellent condition. Probably, they’re made of different stuff. In tennis and in world sport in general, they are real uncials. I know them fairly well. They, like drug addicts, are attracted to victories. Andre and Pete just get overwhelmed by the public reaction and the fact that the American flag is raised in their honour. And they have already earned enough money. Agassi, as we were told by the Armenian player living now in the US Sargis Sargisian, helps children tennis, hospitals, the handicapped, also makes donations to the AIDS Fund. In all, a good example.
Translated by Eli.
Interview with Marat's physio, Anatoly Glebov.
Physicians and massage trainers who work with the stars of extra-class are usually in the shadow of those they care for. However, their role in athletes’ achievements can’t be underestimated. We hope that it’s going to be interesting to our readers to find out what think about the upcoming match, and not only that, the specialists of world class – Anatoly Glebov, massage trainer of Marat Safin, and Sergey Yasnitzky – physician of Eugeny Kafelnikov.
Glebov is irreplaceable for Russia’s team. Not accidentally he’s deemed to be not only a high-class massage trainer, but also a good psychologist. Actually, it can’t be otherwise. Indeed, when a tennis player lies down on the massage table he literally gives his body into Glebov’s hands. How’s then without psychology?
- What are the consequences for the match being that late in the season?
- The guys are feeling a bit tired. Since Marat is younger he recovers faster, because at his age metabolism is better and no problems with overweight arise. Nevertheless, his season has turned out to be pretty intense. In January he reached the final of Australian Open, after there was semi-final of Roland Garros. And just recently, Safin, thanks God, has won a major competition in “Bercy”. For now his condition is stabilized, but the final of Davis Cup in December is still a hard test. But our guys are fine fellows. Genya (Yevgeny) was preparing great in Monte-Carlo where he was training 2 times a day. For sake of country’s prestige he’s ready to give it all, to give away everything for the last.
- When did you start working with Safin permanently?
- Last summer.
- What impression does he make on you?
- Many treat Safin with prejudice, they think that he’s overly extravagant. However, it’s not like that. Safin is a normal guy, though he wouldn’t open up with everyone. One needs to find an approach to him. By his character Marat is kind, sympathetic, with a nice sense of humour. Lately, he reeds a lot of contemporary writers – Veller, Sorokin.
- Any problems with his attitude towards schedule and healthcare?
- I know from my own experience that young players almost always treat themselves not as seriously as they should. But when injuries come along “their brains get cleaned up” (literal translation). Marat himself asked me to help him. After the peak in the beginning of 2001 he sprained his back muscle. Now, after I have worked with him, he understood that even at his age it’s necessary to maintain his body: take vitamins and minerals, stretch, undergo certain procedures.
(Part of interview omitted as of no relevance)
- Is there any specificity of work with Safin?
- I wouldn’t say so. But after 20 years of my career I can count with the fingers of a single hand the athletes with such distinctive motion and muscular features as Marat has. They are Nikolay Gulyaev, the Olympic champion in field skating, the football forward of “Milan” – Andrei Shevchenko, and Safin. By the way, Marat could make good results in any sport, for example in bicycle racing and soccer. He’s very soft (referring to muscles), flexible and at the same time, mobile and powerful, his muscles separate easily from the bone. With such people it’s easy to work. But Kafelnikov, oppositely, has very thick and squelchy muscles. I’m, to admit it, surprised that during his lengthy career Genya practically managed to avoid serious injuries. In this regard he’s a phenomenon.
- In January at the Australian Open semifinal Safin at first hopelessly was loosing, but after the rain break he suddenly changed. What then happened?
- A pretty banal situation. Marat took off his shirt at the warm-up. But the Australian sun is very radioactive , I yet knew it from the experience with Andrey Medvedev. I advised Safin to get dressed, but he didn’t listen. As a result it got to him. As we say, he took too much sun on him. At some point, he just passed out. And then it started raining, which hugely helped Safin. Haas got, I think, simply overmassaged during the break. Thomas’ masseur worked with him 30-40 minutes. But I for 15 minutes just released the tension from Marat’s muscles, elevated their tonus as they do it in track and field. Plus, supported the guy, convinced him that now he’ll start serving and everything will come right. And indeed he got concentrated, became more confident. Although, I don’t consider myself a great contribution to his victory. I just did my job.
- In the process of preparing to this final do you take any special measures?
- We had only two weeks. Of course, we managed to clean some things up, but in principle, it’s not enough time to seriously prepare for such an important match. The important thing now – not getting injured. The guys simply have to demonstrate all their skills on the court. We now have about the same team as the Germans had in the times when Boris Becker and Michael Shtikh were playing for them. Their captain Nick Pilic had a problem of how to balance these two bright personalities in order to create a normal psychological climate in the team. Our captain has approximately the same problem. Because Genya and Marat are totally different people. Not to say that they’re very amicable (friendly), but treat each other well, which already is good. In tennis, an individual type of sport, players sometimes have very peculiar relationships. But they have pretty normal one.
- And what is the difference between Eugueniy and Marat?
- Safin, as I say, is from “generation Pepsi” – young, likes to have fun. Kafelnikov is more reasonable. Their 6 year age gap is in evidence.
- How well are Kafelnikov and Safin ready for the final physically?
- Marat – very well. But Genya could compensate his lagging behind in “physique” with his huge experience. He knows how to act in such matches. A recent example – the match against Gaston Gaudio in the semi-final with Argentina, when Kafelnikov saved himself being in a desperate situation. In general, if Genya had such legs as Marat, then with his understanding and knowledge of tennis he would be number one for at least 5 years. However, Kafelnikov must always keep up a good physical form, and in his age it’s already difficult. By the way, I simply cannot imagine how can 31-year old Sampras, and especially 32-year old Agassi maintain such an excellent condition. Probably, they’re made of different stuff. In tennis and in world sport in general, they are real uncials. I know them fairly well. They, like drug addicts, are attracted to victories. Andre and Pete just get overwhelmed by the public reaction and the fact that the American flag is raised in their honour. And they have already earned enough money. Agassi, as we were told by the Armenian player living now in the US Sargis Sargisian, helps children tennis, hospitals, the handicapped, also makes donations to the AIDS Fund. In all, a good example.
Translated by Eli.
