Post by Annie on Jun 28, 2005 15:44:17 GMT 3
Safin: My character helped me to become who I am
Yelena PRIKHODKO, on 03 March, 2005
4-6 March the Russian tennis team will play 1/8 final match of the Davis Cup against Chile. Most probably both teams won't avoid some player losses. Our guests won't have their leaser Nicolas Massu on their team, in the Russian team Nikolai Davydenko's participation is doubtful. Although the management of our team will decide on the final lineup. One, however, remains constant: special hopes are on the leader of the team, Marat Safin. The player himself calls for sober approach: "Any Davis Cup tie is difficult, we should be very careful since we don't know who will be the second player of the ean team and who will play the doubles".
In the exclusive interview to "Utro" safin gives his view on the state of men's and women's tennis, tells about his own successes and failures, about his participation in charity and about what he could do after the end of his sporting career. "Utro": Marat, this season began for you very successfully - with victory at the Australian Open. But then followed the unexpected defeat in the first round in Dubai. What's the reason for this instability?
Marat Safin: In our sport a lot depends on luck. No-one can say beforehand that he is ready to win at a Grand Slam tournament. The last time I won a Grand Slam tournament was 5 years ago. Some players never win any of them. We have only Yevgeny Kafel'nikov who has won two Grand Slam tournaments. He also won the Olympic gold medal. But it is very difficult to reach even such achievements. Everyone is prepared to play well but sometimes failures happen. It would be even uninteresting without them.
"U": Does this mean that in your opinion one shouldn't even assume that someone will be able some time to win the Grand Slam?
M.S.: I think it's impossible not only physically but also psychologically. To be in good shape for a long period of time and play seriously and well - it's very difficult. Although, of course, nothing is impossible. But so far no-one has succeeded. Maximum - 3 tournaments in the year.
"U": It seems that modern tennis has already reached the top in its development. Today successful player has to be universal. Is it possible that some technical innovations appear that allow someone to go far ahead?
M.S.: Today's conditions are pretty sufficient. If today they still begin to devise something this will be a distortion, mockery on people and the sport. We are already talking about the ceiling. Tennis has reached the moment of perfection. Today the player with stronger psyche wins because everyone has good technique, without it one can do nothing in modern tennis. If you have poor technique you will be break down, injuries will begin.
"U": How many hours a day do you train?
M.S.: Everything depends on the season. Training season - 5 hours a day. Between competitions - around 3. And this is now, before I became a serious tennis-player I had to train 6-7 hours.
"U": The Russian fans have got used to get good news more frequently from the women's tennis tournaments. Men have not performed on the same level. Are there some young players that have come up, someone of young and talented stepping on the heels?
M.S.: The women have a little different situation. I don't want to offend them but still for them it's somewhat easier to pass the stage of formation. We need to be pushy, strong, to have a larger quantity of certain qualities which are necessary to become a professional. Women can use more teir individual features: some move well, some have a great forehand. Men must have everything. This stage of formation is complex and is difficult. Many break and leave tennis. That's why there is less of us. There are some very talented players but so far I don't see the seriousness in their actions - everyone is soaring in the clouds. Between the business and the pleasure it's time to select business, i.e. tennis. But many people don't want to make this choice at the age of 18-19. There are too many temptations around.
"U": Why the majority of Russian tennis-players still prefer to train abroad?
M.S.: The main reason is the condition. We have not enough competitions, people with whom to train, facilities. The federation is doing something but the system is not completed. Therefore many people in order to porgress have to leave abroad. Here ther's no-one with whom to compete, to nothing to strive for. Although there are outstanding coaches, talented children, something is disrupted in this chain - there is no basis, no model. There is no desire to move forward.
"U": Your on-court behaviour is liked by many but many don't appreciate it...
M.S.: I know, I've heard repeatedly about this. I understand that not everyone can be pleased with my behavior there are always those who don't like something. But there are moments (no-one is secure from them), when nerves prevail. Indeed tennis is a game where one error can lead to a big defeat. The emotions are so strong at such moments that sometimes it's very hard to behave adequately on court. Besides I don't make anything terrible. If I wasn't like I am and dind't have the character I have I could sit somewhere at the market in Tashkent and sell dates or study somewhere. I would be a good boy, drive on a trolleybus, everyone would be pleased with me - but I myself would be dissatisfied with myself because this not in my character. My character helped me to become who I am.
"U": I know that you became a co-founder of a charitable orthopedic foundation. Could you please tell about its activity.
M.S.: We want to help the former athletes who realtively late ended their professional careers. Almost always they have many health problems. Injured hip joints, elbows, arms - hazards of occupation in professional sport. In our country, I don't even know how to explain it, there's a situation when these people after life in sports can't allow themselves to make an operation which would help them feel themselves normal people in everyday life. So there came this idea - to create the charitable foundation and try to help at least some of these people.
"U": Your role in this foundation, as I understand, does consist mainly of fundraising?
M.S.: Kind of, yes. I can make this. Moreover, I feel the need to do this. To me this is interesting and necessary. Now I'm working on one other project how to bring additional money to the foundation. Because besides paying for the operations themselves, it's necessary to buy equipment and materials.
"U": In that case don't you have the idea to organize an exhibition match in Moscow with your participation? I think interest in it would be realtively great and it would be possible to raise a lot of money.
M.S.: You know, the idea itself is only a little over six months old. To make it a reality one has to work with it. There are people dealing with it basically we only started and now the main thing is to make the society believe in this undertaking. Maybe I'll try to organise something at the Davis Cup tie. It is sad that athletes who who ende their professional careers, bluntly speaking, turned out to be not needed in our country. We don't have programs for career-development after sports. They try to manage by themselves as well as they can.
"U": But have you yourself decided when you'll finish your sporting career?
M.S.: I am playing at the professional level for 7 years already. I think it is possible to play until 30 - this is the optimal period. Life is short. You need to try yourself also in some other role.
"U": Still, what could this role be?
M.S.: I don't know yet. I have to look. Business, hobby... Anything. You have to try to squeeze the maximum possible out of yourself so that it wouldn't be painful and sad for the stupidly squandered years. I think the peak of the career is at 25-27. After that already the final stage, with some small peaks - this would be great. To leave beautifully at 30 I consider completely worthy. At least in our sport. In no case you can compare tennis to other sports, we have a different situation. We travel 365 days in the year. This is very hard. Some people break at the age of 25-26 while some can run until they are 34.
Yelena PRIKHODKO, on 03 March, 2005
4-6 March the Russian tennis team will play 1/8 final match of the Davis Cup against Chile. Most probably both teams won't avoid some player losses. Our guests won't have their leaser Nicolas Massu on their team, in the Russian team Nikolai Davydenko's participation is doubtful. Although the management of our team will decide on the final lineup. One, however, remains constant: special hopes are on the leader of the team, Marat Safin. The player himself calls for sober approach: "Any Davis Cup tie is difficult, we should be very careful since we don't know who will be the second player of the ean team and who will play the doubles".
In the exclusive interview to "Utro" safin gives his view on the state of men's and women's tennis, tells about his own successes and failures, about his participation in charity and about what he could do after the end of his sporting career. "Utro": Marat, this season began for you very successfully - with victory at the Australian Open. But then followed the unexpected defeat in the first round in Dubai. What's the reason for this instability?
Marat Safin: In our sport a lot depends on luck. No-one can say beforehand that he is ready to win at a Grand Slam tournament. The last time I won a Grand Slam tournament was 5 years ago. Some players never win any of them. We have only Yevgeny Kafel'nikov who has won two Grand Slam tournaments. He also won the Olympic gold medal. But it is very difficult to reach even such achievements. Everyone is prepared to play well but sometimes failures happen. It would be even uninteresting without them.
"U": Does this mean that in your opinion one shouldn't even assume that someone will be able some time to win the Grand Slam?
M.S.: I think it's impossible not only physically but also psychologically. To be in good shape for a long period of time and play seriously and well - it's very difficult. Although, of course, nothing is impossible. But so far no-one has succeeded. Maximum - 3 tournaments in the year.
"U": It seems that modern tennis has already reached the top in its development. Today successful player has to be universal. Is it possible that some technical innovations appear that allow someone to go far ahead?
M.S.: Today's conditions are pretty sufficient. If today they still begin to devise something this will be a distortion, mockery on people and the sport. We are already talking about the ceiling. Tennis has reached the moment of perfection. Today the player with stronger psyche wins because everyone has good technique, without it one can do nothing in modern tennis. If you have poor technique you will be break down, injuries will begin.
"U": How many hours a day do you train?
M.S.: Everything depends on the season. Training season - 5 hours a day. Between competitions - around 3. And this is now, before I became a serious tennis-player I had to train 6-7 hours.
"U": The Russian fans have got used to get good news more frequently from the women's tennis tournaments. Men have not performed on the same level. Are there some young players that have come up, someone of young and talented stepping on the heels?
M.S.: The women have a little different situation. I don't want to offend them but still for them it's somewhat easier to pass the stage of formation. We need to be pushy, strong, to have a larger quantity of certain qualities which are necessary to become a professional. Women can use more teir individual features: some move well, some have a great forehand. Men must have everything. This stage of formation is complex and is difficult. Many break and leave tennis. That's why there is less of us. There are some very talented players but so far I don't see the seriousness in their actions - everyone is soaring in the clouds. Between the business and the pleasure it's time to select business, i.e. tennis. But many people don't want to make this choice at the age of 18-19. There are too many temptations around.
"U": Why the majority of Russian tennis-players still prefer to train abroad?
M.S.: The main reason is the condition. We have not enough competitions, people with whom to train, facilities. The federation is doing something but the system is not completed. Therefore many people in order to porgress have to leave abroad. Here ther's no-one with whom to compete, to nothing to strive for. Although there are outstanding coaches, talented children, something is disrupted in this chain - there is no basis, no model. There is no desire to move forward.
"U": Your on-court behaviour is liked by many but many don't appreciate it...
M.S.: I know, I've heard repeatedly about this. I understand that not everyone can be pleased with my behavior there are always those who don't like something. But there are moments (no-one is secure from them), when nerves prevail. Indeed tennis is a game where one error can lead to a big defeat. The emotions are so strong at such moments that sometimes it's very hard to behave adequately on court. Besides I don't make anything terrible. If I wasn't like I am and dind't have the character I have I could sit somewhere at the market in Tashkent and sell dates or study somewhere. I would be a good boy, drive on a trolleybus, everyone would be pleased with me - but I myself would be dissatisfied with myself because this not in my character. My character helped me to become who I am.
"U": I know that you became a co-founder of a charitable orthopedic foundation. Could you please tell about its activity.
M.S.: We want to help the former athletes who realtively late ended their professional careers. Almost always they have many health problems. Injured hip joints, elbows, arms - hazards of occupation in professional sport. In our country, I don't even know how to explain it, there's a situation when these people after life in sports can't allow themselves to make an operation which would help them feel themselves normal people in everyday life. So there came this idea - to create the charitable foundation and try to help at least some of these people.
"U": Your role in this foundation, as I understand, does consist mainly of fundraising?
M.S.: Kind of, yes. I can make this. Moreover, I feel the need to do this. To me this is interesting and necessary. Now I'm working on one other project how to bring additional money to the foundation. Because besides paying for the operations themselves, it's necessary to buy equipment and materials.
"U": In that case don't you have the idea to organize an exhibition match in Moscow with your participation? I think interest in it would be realtively great and it would be possible to raise a lot of money.
M.S.: You know, the idea itself is only a little over six months old. To make it a reality one has to work with it. There are people dealing with it basically we only started and now the main thing is to make the society believe in this undertaking. Maybe I'll try to organise something at the Davis Cup tie. It is sad that athletes who who ende their professional careers, bluntly speaking, turned out to be not needed in our country. We don't have programs for career-development after sports. They try to manage by themselves as well as they can.
"U": But have you yourself decided when you'll finish your sporting career?
M.S.: I am playing at the professional level for 7 years already. I think it is possible to play until 30 - this is the optimal period. Life is short. You need to try yourself also in some other role.
"U": Still, what could this role be?
M.S.: I don't know yet. I have to look. Business, hobby... Anything. You have to try to squeeze the maximum possible out of yourself so that it wouldn't be painful and sad for the stupidly squandered years. I think the peak of the career is at 25-27. After that already the final stage, with some small peaks - this would be great. To leave beautifully at 30 I consider completely worthy. At least in our sport. In no case you can compare tennis to other sports, we have a different situation. We travel 365 days in the year. This is very hard. Some people break at the age of 25-26 while some can run until they are 34.
