Post by Annie on Jun 28, 2005 15:42:44 GMT 3
Le magazine de L'OPTIMUM (Russia), April 2005
Text: Kirill Mikhailov
Photos: Arthur Tagirov
Composition: Elena Ivanova-Tagoriva
Clothes: Iceberg, Bikkembergs, Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana
View the photo shoot here
This year started extremely good for Marat Safin. He won the Australian Open. Roland Garros and Wimbledon are ahead. To win them is every professional tennis player's dream. And it's not just the prize money. From a passionate youngster Marat Safin worked his way up to become a real gentleman, who nowadays is a symbol of success of the Russian sport. Fans call him "Marat the Great". He himself treats the situation with a smile and often jokes about himself.
L'Optimum = LO
Marat Safin = MS
LO: You are very often out of the country but somehow you always manage to appear in tabloids...
MS: Every person has a certain activity in life. Some made a choice to become paparazzi and some - to play tennis. It's that simple.
LO: Isn't it hard to live your life under a magnifying glass?
MS: One most important rule is not to take life too seriously.
LO: OK, let's at least talk about life. Before you were often seen at all sorts of parties, nowadays it happens rarely. What has changed?
MS: I have no idea how to calculate the frequency of my appearances at parties. My thoughts are concentrated more on winning an upcoming tournament. For example, last Australian Open "dragged me" out of Russia for a whole month. I went there two weeks beforehand in order to get used to the climate and conditions. Then another two weeks of the tournament. I am not trying to say that I fell out of my rhythm, on the whole this is exactly my rhythm: tournament - home, training - tournament...and that will go on until I stop playing tennis.
LO: In other words, there is no space for outings in that sequence?
MS: It is not essential to account for them. These outings are either spontaneous gathering with friends, or previously arranged "evenings", which I have to attend.
LO: You HAVE to?
MS: Stop interpreting my expressions. I have a number of obligations, like with my sponsors for example. You know how it usually is. I am a public figure and I have to work on my publicity. I will never get tired of repeating one thing: I play tennis, full stop. As for the rest, they are so-called "additional, on-the-side" events.
LO: Do these outings carry an element of ego boosting?
MS: I won't lie to you, of course they do. But on the other hand, my goal at these outings is not to show off but on the contrary to look at people. There are times when really boring evening passes with me just watching people. In the end it's not so boring after all.
LO: And who becomes the object of your studies? Girls?
MS: Amongst others. But don't start imagining things. I am a serious young man. I have a woman that I love. So it's just a matter of interest. It is extremely fascinating to watch everyone. In 20 seconds for example one can tell whether a person is a snob or not. So when I've established that a person is in fact a snob I immediately move on and switch to someone else. Snobs are boring, I always say that I have nothing to do with these people.
LO: So what's the difference between a snob and you?
MS: I think snobs are totally obsessed with a form and don't care about the content. It is a matter of principle for them what brand their shirt is, their trousers, their jacket, a watch, etc. It is also important for me but I don't make it my top priority. I can afford many things in life but I like to buy my jeans on sale, everything on sale actually. And it's not greed, as many might think, it's a hunch for looking for things and then finding them. Cheap doesn't mean bad, expensive stuff is in excess everywhere.
LO: What car do you own?
MS: To be honest with you, at the moment I have two. One is a sponsor's Mercedes; the other one is my own Range Rover.
LO: No questions about the sponsor's one but your Range Rover is not cheap at all...
MS: Yeah. So what? A car is a car. I need a comfortable car. You can economise on jeans but not on cars. Then again this car isn't that expensive compared to the ones I used to own.
LO: Which are those?
MS: Ferrari and Porsche. But it came and went. I grew up and realised that it is unnecessary. I am way past that age, showing off is no longer needed. And then I realised that being a snob it's really not me. So I changed the car. There are real spiritual values in life and that is exactly what we should concentrate on. Fortunately you cannot buy these values.
LO: Oh yeah, definitely, thanks God. I'll use this opportunity since you changed the topic of our discussion and would like to ask you about your plans after you finish your professional career. Do you want to become a coach?
MS: No, definitely not a coach. You have to be more patient to be a coach. I'll be honest I don't have enough patience, it is not in my character. It will be a real challenge but it is very hard to change yourself.
LO: So then what?
MS: Probably I'll start doing business. But I don't want to plan ahead. I am planning to stay in the game for another 5-6 years. On the one hand it's a really long time, on the other - disgustingly short. I want to have the time to make my dreams come true, to win major tennis tournaments.
LO: So what kind of business would that be?
MS: Obviously it will be sports related, tennis related in the first place. You have to do what you are good at, otherwise it doesn't make any sense, and it will turn into an artificial time killing. I know for sure what I can try to get done. In Russia there are a lot of talented sportsmen, who have contributed a great deal but as soon as they retire for various reasons, the State forgets all about them. Some of them lead a really disastrous life. It is unfair. We have to take care of them, we have to organise funds, which would support existing and ex-sportsmen. So maybe that's what I'll do. The most important thing is to have wise people around you, who can help out and give good valuable advice.
LO: Nowadays it's extremely popular to attract stars of sports and show business for participation in pre-election political campaigns or other social and political activities. Were you already asked to become a member of "Edinaya Rossiya" ?
MS: Not yet...
LO: What if it suddenly happens?
MS: I'll refuse. Maybe I'll find it hard to do, maybe it will be due to a number of other reasons. But I have no desire whatsoever to do something like that. Again, one should do what he is good at. In politics I am a complete dumbo and it will be really stupid to invite me to work for some party. This work will be totally unproductive (Laughs). In the state I am in right now I have an opportunity to do well only in one direction - fighting to win tennis tournaments. For now I'd better not be all over the place and concentrate more on my game.
LO: Have you thought about starting a family?
MS: In a serious manner no, I haven't. What family are you talking about when I am always away? It sort of won't be right. A family needs a bastion, a fort and I even live in a rented apartment. It's too early to talk about it. Apart from that during all the years that I have been playing professional tennis I got used to travelling so much, I actually like it. If I get stuck in one city for a whole month I myself don't feel well, I want to pack and catch a first plane out of there. Probably, it's an illness of some sort...
LO: And kids?
MS: What about them? In order to have kids, you yourself have to grow up.
LO: But you just said you did...
MS: Yeah but probably not enough. But I can't argue that it would be fantastic if I had kids, even though I am finding it very hard to imagine myself with wipes and nappies. I hope my wife will give me a hand in that (Laughs).
LO: What if your kids decide to take up tennis?
MS: So let it be as long as they get the kicks out of it!
LO: Attention! The most serious question now. If you have a son, what are the major life principles will you try to teach him?
MS: What a question! Do I have to answer right away? I have to think it over.
LO: So think it over.
MS: On the other hand, what's there to think over? The most important thing in life is not to tell small lies, then it will be very hard to tell big ones.
LO: Ok, then tell me. Does it mean that now, during this interview you didn't tell me any small lies?
MS: I did the best I could! (Laughs)
Translated By Annie
Text: Kirill Mikhailov
Photos: Arthur Tagirov
Composition: Elena Ivanova-Tagoriva
Clothes: Iceberg, Bikkembergs, Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana
View the photo shoot here
This year started extremely good for Marat Safin. He won the Australian Open. Roland Garros and Wimbledon are ahead. To win them is every professional tennis player's dream. And it's not just the prize money. From a passionate youngster Marat Safin worked his way up to become a real gentleman, who nowadays is a symbol of success of the Russian sport. Fans call him "Marat the Great". He himself treats the situation with a smile and often jokes about himself.
L'Optimum = LO
Marat Safin = MS
LO: You are very often out of the country but somehow you always manage to appear in tabloids...
MS: Every person has a certain activity in life. Some made a choice to become paparazzi and some - to play tennis. It's that simple.
LO: Isn't it hard to live your life under a magnifying glass?
MS: One most important rule is not to take life too seriously.
LO: OK, let's at least talk about life. Before you were often seen at all sorts of parties, nowadays it happens rarely. What has changed?
MS: I have no idea how to calculate the frequency of my appearances at parties. My thoughts are concentrated more on winning an upcoming tournament. For example, last Australian Open "dragged me" out of Russia for a whole month. I went there two weeks beforehand in order to get used to the climate and conditions. Then another two weeks of the tournament. I am not trying to say that I fell out of my rhythm, on the whole this is exactly my rhythm: tournament - home, training - tournament...and that will go on until I stop playing tennis.
LO: In other words, there is no space for outings in that sequence?
MS: It is not essential to account for them. These outings are either spontaneous gathering with friends, or previously arranged "evenings", which I have to attend.
LO: You HAVE to?
MS: Stop interpreting my expressions. I have a number of obligations, like with my sponsors for example. You know how it usually is. I am a public figure and I have to work on my publicity. I will never get tired of repeating one thing: I play tennis, full stop. As for the rest, they are so-called "additional, on-the-side" events.
LO: Do these outings carry an element of ego boosting?
MS: I won't lie to you, of course they do. But on the other hand, my goal at these outings is not to show off but on the contrary to look at people. There are times when really boring evening passes with me just watching people. In the end it's not so boring after all.
LO: And who becomes the object of your studies? Girls?
MS: Amongst others. But don't start imagining things. I am a serious young man. I have a woman that I love. So it's just a matter of interest. It is extremely fascinating to watch everyone. In 20 seconds for example one can tell whether a person is a snob or not. So when I've established that a person is in fact a snob I immediately move on and switch to someone else. Snobs are boring, I always say that I have nothing to do with these people.
LO: So what's the difference between a snob and you?
MS: I think snobs are totally obsessed with a form and don't care about the content. It is a matter of principle for them what brand their shirt is, their trousers, their jacket, a watch, etc. It is also important for me but I don't make it my top priority. I can afford many things in life but I like to buy my jeans on sale, everything on sale actually. And it's not greed, as many might think, it's a hunch for looking for things and then finding them. Cheap doesn't mean bad, expensive stuff is in excess everywhere.
LO: What car do you own?
MS: To be honest with you, at the moment I have two. One is a sponsor's Mercedes; the other one is my own Range Rover.
LO: No questions about the sponsor's one but your Range Rover is not cheap at all...
MS: Yeah. So what? A car is a car. I need a comfortable car. You can economise on jeans but not on cars. Then again this car isn't that expensive compared to the ones I used to own.
LO: Which are those?
MS: Ferrari and Porsche. But it came and went. I grew up and realised that it is unnecessary. I am way past that age, showing off is no longer needed. And then I realised that being a snob it's really not me. So I changed the car. There are real spiritual values in life and that is exactly what we should concentrate on. Fortunately you cannot buy these values.
LO: Oh yeah, definitely, thanks God. I'll use this opportunity since you changed the topic of our discussion and would like to ask you about your plans after you finish your professional career. Do you want to become a coach?
MS: No, definitely not a coach. You have to be more patient to be a coach. I'll be honest I don't have enough patience, it is not in my character. It will be a real challenge but it is very hard to change yourself.
LO: So then what?
MS: Probably I'll start doing business. But I don't want to plan ahead. I am planning to stay in the game for another 5-6 years. On the one hand it's a really long time, on the other - disgustingly short. I want to have the time to make my dreams come true, to win major tennis tournaments.
LO: So what kind of business would that be?
MS: Obviously it will be sports related, tennis related in the first place. You have to do what you are good at, otherwise it doesn't make any sense, and it will turn into an artificial time killing. I know for sure what I can try to get done. In Russia there are a lot of talented sportsmen, who have contributed a great deal but as soon as they retire for various reasons, the State forgets all about them. Some of them lead a really disastrous life. It is unfair. We have to take care of them, we have to organise funds, which would support existing and ex-sportsmen. So maybe that's what I'll do. The most important thing is to have wise people around you, who can help out and give good valuable advice.
LO: Nowadays it's extremely popular to attract stars of sports and show business for participation in pre-election political campaigns or other social and political activities. Were you already asked to become a member of "Edinaya Rossiya" ?
MS: Not yet...
LO: What if it suddenly happens?
MS: I'll refuse. Maybe I'll find it hard to do, maybe it will be due to a number of other reasons. But I have no desire whatsoever to do something like that. Again, one should do what he is good at. In politics I am a complete dumbo and it will be really stupid to invite me to work for some party. This work will be totally unproductive (Laughs). In the state I am in right now I have an opportunity to do well only in one direction - fighting to win tennis tournaments. For now I'd better not be all over the place and concentrate more on my game.
LO: Have you thought about starting a family?
MS: In a serious manner no, I haven't. What family are you talking about when I am always away? It sort of won't be right. A family needs a bastion, a fort and I even live in a rented apartment. It's too early to talk about it. Apart from that during all the years that I have been playing professional tennis I got used to travelling so much, I actually like it. If I get stuck in one city for a whole month I myself don't feel well, I want to pack and catch a first plane out of there. Probably, it's an illness of some sort...
LO: And kids?
MS: What about them? In order to have kids, you yourself have to grow up.
LO: But you just said you did...
MS: Yeah but probably not enough. But I can't argue that it would be fantastic if I had kids, even though I am finding it very hard to imagine myself with wipes and nappies. I hope my wife will give me a hand in that (Laughs).
LO: What if your kids decide to take up tennis?
MS: So let it be as long as they get the kicks out of it!
LO: Attention! The most serious question now. If you have a son, what are the major life principles will you try to teach him?
MS: What a question! Do I have to answer right away? I have to think it over.
LO: So think it over.
MS: On the other hand, what's there to think over? The most important thing in life is not to tell small lies, then it will be very hard to tell big ones.
LO: Ok, then tell me. Does it mean that now, during this interview you didn't tell me any small lies?
MS: I did the best I could! (Laughs)
Translated By Annie
