Post by Annie on Jun 13, 2005 20:00:19 GMT 3
Moscow Komsomolets (11th April 2003)
Denis Golovanov: "I was immersed in Marat's life."
He is a personal trainer and a friend all in one. Loneliness- it's experienced by nearly all the top players. To the player, life seems like a rough holiday. He falls asleep in one country, and wakes up in another. Practice sessions, tournaments, defeats, successes. Admirers everywhere. Adrenaline is always in their blood stream. When they need to break out, they find there is no-one around. It's difficult for a player to find the right coach who will permanently follow him around, like he's chasing the sun, overlook his own private life, and lose himself in their life. It's no mystery that Marat remained without a coach for so long. To date, he has already had five different coaches. The rhythm that a player of his level lives in, is practically impossible for others to sustain. And on the eve of the Bercy final [2002] Marat offered the job to his childhood friend Denis Golovanov, whom he has know since he was ten.
I got aquainted with Denis in Buenos Aires. On the eve of the Davis Cup, the guys celebrated Denis' birthday in Miami. Then they all flew to Argentina in an excellent mood, and suddenly Marat injures his ankle in the first practice session. Denis managed this with difficulty. The personal trainer and friend in one - it's not surprising that he sees all Marat's problems as his own.
Q. Marat asked you to help him more as a friend, or did he ask you to coach him as purely business?
D. I think he asked me as a friend. You don't realise how much you have to travel, how much you have to do. But, I have known Marat since we were children, since we were ten. We were always great friends, and always went back to see each other. When Marat had to fly to the Shanghai tournament, it was right after last years final in Paris [Bercy] I didn't want him to feel like he was on his own, so he asked if I'd like to come with him to help support him. Certainly, I wasn't thinking of doing any coaching back then. I'd never even thought about offering my services to someone of this level. But right after the final in Bercy, Marat suddenly started talking about it. This year, he asked me to work with him, and so lets see what happens.
Q. You agreed at once?
D. Not at once. It was a difficult decision. You see, I was only 23. Besides, I still wanted to play myself, and I hadn't planned to suddenly change careers.
Q. But nevertheless, you still agreed?
D. Yes, because Marat has helped me so much for so long. I simply couldn't say no to him. He pointed out that I was being forced to leave tennis because I couldn't find a coach, which is actually very difficult to find. And now Marat was having the same problem.....
Q. What did a decision like this mean for you?
D. Absolutely no time for my own private life. I have to be immersed in Marat's life, and I've done that.
Q. Forgive a personal question. What about your own family?
D. I don't have a wife. So, I'm hardly ever at home, because I travel for so many months. I go with Marat to every single tournament, and I completely organize his trainings.
Q. Do you think Marat has changed in the last three years?
D. Definitely. He's matured. He's also much more tired. And these endless injuries- that shoulder, his arm, then his foot ! So many tournaments he could have won, but he's been forced to retire from them.
Q. It sounds like someone being mistreated......
D. We've spoken to Marat about this. Maybe it's actually worth him trying something else to help.
Q. How do you think Marat is coping with his current state - excluding injuries, obviously.
D. I don't know. Naturally, he wants to be the best, but everything is too complex. Especially after you've already made it to number one. The fact is, when you haven't achieved anything in your life yet, it's much easier psychologically- speaking, to be successful. But when you have to force yourself to achieve everything for a second time, it's much more difficult. We all wish that this black situation would finally end, and afterwards, Marat would be fixed!! I believe that will happen, and he'll be ok.
By Elena Shpiz
11.04.03
Buenos Aires.
Translated by Ruth.
Original Source of Interview
marat-safin.narod.ru/inter/denisg.html
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!!
Denis Golovanov: "I was immersed in Marat's life."
He is a personal trainer and a friend all in one. Loneliness- it's experienced by nearly all the top players. To the player, life seems like a rough holiday. He falls asleep in one country, and wakes up in another. Practice sessions, tournaments, defeats, successes. Admirers everywhere. Adrenaline is always in their blood stream. When they need to break out, they find there is no-one around. It's difficult for a player to find the right coach who will permanently follow him around, like he's chasing the sun, overlook his own private life, and lose himself in their life. It's no mystery that Marat remained without a coach for so long. To date, he has already had five different coaches. The rhythm that a player of his level lives in, is practically impossible for others to sustain. And on the eve of the Bercy final [2002] Marat offered the job to his childhood friend Denis Golovanov, whom he has know since he was ten.
I got aquainted with Denis in Buenos Aires. On the eve of the Davis Cup, the guys celebrated Denis' birthday in Miami. Then they all flew to Argentina in an excellent mood, and suddenly Marat injures his ankle in the first practice session. Denis managed this with difficulty. The personal trainer and friend in one - it's not surprising that he sees all Marat's problems as his own.
Q. Marat asked you to help him more as a friend, or did he ask you to coach him as purely business?
D. I think he asked me as a friend. You don't realise how much you have to travel, how much you have to do. But, I have known Marat since we were children, since we were ten. We were always great friends, and always went back to see each other. When Marat had to fly to the Shanghai tournament, it was right after last years final in Paris [Bercy] I didn't want him to feel like he was on his own, so he asked if I'd like to come with him to help support him. Certainly, I wasn't thinking of doing any coaching back then. I'd never even thought about offering my services to someone of this level. But right after the final in Bercy, Marat suddenly started talking about it. This year, he asked me to work with him, and so lets see what happens.
Q. You agreed at once?
D. Not at once. It was a difficult decision. You see, I was only 23. Besides, I still wanted to play myself, and I hadn't planned to suddenly change careers.
Q. But nevertheless, you still agreed?
D. Yes, because Marat has helped me so much for so long. I simply couldn't say no to him. He pointed out that I was being forced to leave tennis because I couldn't find a coach, which is actually very difficult to find. And now Marat was having the same problem.....
Q. What did a decision like this mean for you?
D. Absolutely no time for my own private life. I have to be immersed in Marat's life, and I've done that.
Q. Forgive a personal question. What about your own family?
D. I don't have a wife. So, I'm hardly ever at home, because I travel for so many months. I go with Marat to every single tournament, and I completely organize his trainings.
Q. Do you think Marat has changed in the last three years?
D. Definitely. He's matured. He's also much more tired. And these endless injuries- that shoulder, his arm, then his foot ! So many tournaments he could have won, but he's been forced to retire from them.
Q. It sounds like someone being mistreated......
D. We've spoken to Marat about this. Maybe it's actually worth him trying something else to help.
Q. How do you think Marat is coping with his current state - excluding injuries, obviously.
D. I don't know. Naturally, he wants to be the best, but everything is too complex. Especially after you've already made it to number one. The fact is, when you haven't achieved anything in your life yet, it's much easier psychologically- speaking, to be successful. But when you have to force yourself to achieve everything for a second time, it's much more difficult. We all wish that this black situation would finally end, and afterwards, Marat would be fixed!! I believe that will happen, and he'll be ok.
By Elena Shpiz
11.04.03
Buenos Aires.
Translated by Ruth.
Original Source of Interview
marat-safin.narod.ru/inter/denisg.html
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!!
