Post by Annie on Jun 11, 2005 18:56:55 GMT 3
Interview with 'Sports'
Internet magazine (12/98)
"Sports" Interview 1998
A Tennis Website interview
Q. You rarely visit Moscow now. Tell us about Valencia; where you live. (with this, we began our conversation.)
M. It's a city port. 2 million inhabitants. By the way, it's considered one of the most cheerful places in Spain. People from Barcelona and Madrid go there on their days off.
Q. What about Majorca? Isn't that cheerful?
M. It's a lie. Majorca - it's an island and only good in the summer. There's still Ibiza, it's good in general; beach, discos- the best place for a Russian, to tell the truth. ''Blue'' will do just aswell.
[we don't know what the 'blue' reference means...any help would be appreciated!]
Q Do you go to Bullfights?
M. No. I don't like that type of thing. And I don't like fishing either.
Q. What do you like?
M. Like all normal people, discos, cinema, sitting in a bar, having dinner at a restaurant, going to a football (soccer) match.
Q Which football team do you support?
M. Valencia. No, Spartak, then Valencia. When I arrive in Moscow, I head to the stadium.
Q. Do you have time to drive when you go home?
M. In the summer. To get a licence in Valencia, you need to go to a driving school everyday and I don't have the time. In Moscow, I'm doing a course.
Q. Do you have a car?
M. A red Volkswagen Golf. Recently Mercedes presented me with a car.
Q. They simply presented you with one?
M. You don't get presented with one for nothing. After Roland Garros, I was obliged to play the Stuttgart tournament. Mercedes was the sponsor.
Q. The top 10 players no longer seem invincible. So is it still possible to get into the top 10?
M. Potentially. But potential is not enough. For someone who's only got a one year old game, you need confidence. For me, I need experience.But most importantly you need a normal head on your shoulders. It happens week by week, you play normally, and then a failure. Stability and calm is necessary.
Q. And you are probably calm?
M. I'm calm and at the same time... my game hasn't gone, but the impact from my left has gone, and my head is slanted. How can you live like this? [OR: how can you carry on like this?]
apologies for the poor translation, but we are not entirely sure what he means; again, any help would be most welcome!
Q. This is probably down to the coach. What does he say to adjust this?
M. yes, advice from the coach... but it is possible to misunderstand his words, and it is also possible to listen at the right time. It all depends on the players perception of the coach's advice.
Q. You generally give the impression of a well balanced person.
M. yes, but not on court.
Q. But your Spanish coach is so composed during your matches. He's probably a very interesting person?
M. He's the same as me.
Q. What do you mean?
M. Same timidity, doesn't like to talk much.
Q. How did you end up with him?
M. It just happened that way. The club told me he would go to the tournaments with you. We immediately approached each other, but couldn't get accustomed to each other: he had nothing to say, and I had nothing to say...
Q. Your mother developed your technique. What role does Raphael Mensua [coach] play now?
M. I had input on all sides during my childhood. At a professional level, the job of the coach is to motivate the player during a match, to give advice, to explain things, discuss tactics. Certainly, if I'm missing something from my game, I'll prompt him.
Q. And who helps you with your physical training?
M. For physical preparation, I am working with another Spaniard, Miguel Mazco. He works with the Valencia basketball team. Basically, we worked on the legs, so I could move quicker on court, not like Larsson (the tall Swedish player). He's a bungler, no, not bungler.... what do you call it?
Q. A mattress.
[yes, that's the translation of the original word! possibly a russian colloquialism?]
M. Precisely. I'm 195cm [1.95m /6'4"] I would hardly be able to move if I hadn't been trained.
Q. You've always been big?
M. When I left Moscow, I was considered small. In the 7th class I was average height - 1.69m. In Spain I grew 27cm. But now, thank God, I've stopped growing.
Q. What's a typical day?
M. In the morning, 2 hours training on court, then 1 hour of physical training, and in the evening, maybe even another 11/2 hours of tennis.
Q. You wake up easily?
M. No, I like to sleep. I fall asleep at 11pm and I have to be up by 8:30 am , 9am.
Q. Well, that's normal.
M. For who? It's very hard for me.
Q. Maybe it would be better if you took a nap during the day?
M. I don't have enough time. Between trainings, I hardly have enough time to come home for dinner.
Q. You are friendly with Carlos Moya and Alex Corretja. Do you see them often?
M. And where will they meet me? They're in Barcelona, I'm in Valencia. I'm friendly with Corretja, with all the normal guys... but Valencia is good to me.
Q. How did you end up in Spain? You see, most Russian players either went to the States, or to Germany.
M. Certainly, the fashion was to go to America. But for me, things worked out differently. My father found a Swiss sponsor and I was told 'you will go to Spain.' Nobody asked me and I never questioned it. I was put aboard the plane and sent off. Actually, I could have been sent anywhere.
Q.Sounds rather ? you found the Swiss sponsor in Moscow who sent you to Spain...
M. Again, I was completely shocked. Though I went to Spain with mum in 1993. There I was examined, I passed the physical examination, had my heart checked... and in April 1994, I arrived there forever.
Q. How did you cope arriving there forever?
M. First 3 months was certainly a trial. I stayed with a family who spoke neither Russian nor english. To explain anything in general, in anyway, was impossible. I showed them with hand signals, and they also spoke with their hands. I remember it fondly now. But within 6 months, I could communicate without problems.
Q. Then it's better to live alone, separately?
M. Before, there was no money for me to live independently. But now, I'll rent an apartment.
Q. So you find it necessary to prepare for this transition and erase the past? Will your girlfriend help you?
M. Yes, she can help me. But I don't live with her. Generally, apartments in Valencia are very expensive. One room costs $50,000. $1000 per square metre. But this is the cost of a new apartment.
Q. Are there many Russians in Valencia?
M. No tennis players. There are footballers - Salenko and Karpin, but I don't know them. I'm a bit...
Q. Why hestitate about introducing yourself to Karpin? In my opinion, he's also from Spartak....
M. Well, he's Karpin, and I was a 14 year old boy.
Q. But you beat Agassi at Roland Garros, there's more glory in that, than in meeting Karpin.
M. The main thing is not to fear them. Many make that mistake, they are shaken, and they have to leave.
Q. Have you ever been scared of someone?
M. Yes, I've been scared. When I arrived in Spain, the whole first year was wasted because of my fear. Absolutely all of it.
Q.How do you cope with fear?
M. It is necessary to face the fear[?] I faced my situation this way: I cannot lose, it's impossible. I've come all this way to Spain, and so much depends on this. With each loss you become calmer and calmer. Time passes, and soon you fear nothing. You understand that there is nothing to be scared of.
Q.You understood this early on, before others?
M. It became clear by the age of 15! Nobody can avoid defeats. Rivals are ordinary players. Others only look at the big name, eg Agassi, and they can't cope. And Agassi? He plays from the right, from the left, with the same balls, the same raquets. Experience is on his side, but everyone starts at zero.
Q. You reached this conclusion before?
M. Yes I did, with a big thankyou to my coach. He explained it all to me. I chewed it over for 2 years. The first time it's explained to you, you don't understand. Second time around, it is clearer.
Q. In an interview, you described Kafelnikov as a brother...
M. He quite simply helped me during the Davis Cup. He explained everything, if I had any problems. For the first 2 days of matches against the Americans I couldn't hit the ball. He walked over and calmed me down, [said] it was nothing terrible.
Q. Does Russia have a chance to win the Davis Cup?
M. Why not? But a good team is a must.
Translated by Ruth.
members.nbci.com/_XMCM/msafin/sport.html
[original source]
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!!
Internet magazine (12/98)
"Sports" Interview 1998
A Tennis Website interview
Q. You rarely visit Moscow now. Tell us about Valencia; where you live. (with this, we began our conversation.)
M. It's a city port. 2 million inhabitants. By the way, it's considered one of the most cheerful places in Spain. People from Barcelona and Madrid go there on their days off.
Q. What about Majorca? Isn't that cheerful?
M. It's a lie. Majorca - it's an island and only good in the summer. There's still Ibiza, it's good in general; beach, discos- the best place for a Russian, to tell the truth. ''Blue'' will do just aswell.
[we don't know what the 'blue' reference means...any help would be appreciated!]
Q Do you go to Bullfights?
M. No. I don't like that type of thing. And I don't like fishing either.
Q. What do you like?
M. Like all normal people, discos, cinema, sitting in a bar, having dinner at a restaurant, going to a football (soccer) match.
Q Which football team do you support?
M. Valencia. No, Spartak, then Valencia. When I arrive in Moscow, I head to the stadium.
Q. Do you have time to drive when you go home?
M. In the summer. To get a licence in Valencia, you need to go to a driving school everyday and I don't have the time. In Moscow, I'm doing a course.
Q. Do you have a car?
M. A red Volkswagen Golf. Recently Mercedes presented me with a car.
Q. They simply presented you with one?
M. You don't get presented with one for nothing. After Roland Garros, I was obliged to play the Stuttgart tournament. Mercedes was the sponsor.
Q. The top 10 players no longer seem invincible. So is it still possible to get into the top 10?
M. Potentially. But potential is not enough. For someone who's only got a one year old game, you need confidence. For me, I need experience.But most importantly you need a normal head on your shoulders. It happens week by week, you play normally, and then a failure. Stability and calm is necessary.
Q. And you are probably calm?
M. I'm calm and at the same time... my game hasn't gone, but the impact from my left has gone, and my head is slanted. How can you live like this? [OR: how can you carry on like this?]
apologies for the poor translation, but we are not entirely sure what he means; again, any help would be most welcome!
Q. This is probably down to the coach. What does he say to adjust this?
M. yes, advice from the coach... but it is possible to misunderstand his words, and it is also possible to listen at the right time. It all depends on the players perception of the coach's advice.
Q. You generally give the impression of a well balanced person.
M. yes, but not on court.
Q. But your Spanish coach is so composed during your matches. He's probably a very interesting person?
M. He's the same as me.
Q. What do you mean?
M. Same timidity, doesn't like to talk much.
Q. How did you end up with him?
M. It just happened that way. The club told me he would go to the tournaments with you. We immediately approached each other, but couldn't get accustomed to each other: he had nothing to say, and I had nothing to say...
Q. Your mother developed your technique. What role does Raphael Mensua [coach] play now?
M. I had input on all sides during my childhood. At a professional level, the job of the coach is to motivate the player during a match, to give advice, to explain things, discuss tactics. Certainly, if I'm missing something from my game, I'll prompt him.
Q. And who helps you with your physical training?
M. For physical preparation, I am working with another Spaniard, Miguel Mazco. He works with the Valencia basketball team. Basically, we worked on the legs, so I could move quicker on court, not like Larsson (the tall Swedish player). He's a bungler, no, not bungler.... what do you call it?
Q. A mattress.
[yes, that's the translation of the original word! possibly a russian colloquialism?]
M. Precisely. I'm 195cm [1.95m /6'4"] I would hardly be able to move if I hadn't been trained.
Q. You've always been big?
M. When I left Moscow, I was considered small. In the 7th class I was average height - 1.69m. In Spain I grew 27cm. But now, thank God, I've stopped growing.
Q. What's a typical day?
M. In the morning, 2 hours training on court, then 1 hour of physical training, and in the evening, maybe even another 11/2 hours of tennis.
Q. You wake up easily?
M. No, I like to sleep. I fall asleep at 11pm and I have to be up by 8:30 am , 9am.
Q. Well, that's normal.
M. For who? It's very hard for me.
Q. Maybe it would be better if you took a nap during the day?
M. I don't have enough time. Between trainings, I hardly have enough time to come home for dinner.
Q. You are friendly with Carlos Moya and Alex Corretja. Do you see them often?
M. And where will they meet me? They're in Barcelona, I'm in Valencia. I'm friendly with Corretja, with all the normal guys... but Valencia is good to me.
Q. How did you end up in Spain? You see, most Russian players either went to the States, or to Germany.
M. Certainly, the fashion was to go to America. But for me, things worked out differently. My father found a Swiss sponsor and I was told 'you will go to Spain.' Nobody asked me and I never questioned it. I was put aboard the plane and sent off. Actually, I could have been sent anywhere.
Q.Sounds rather ? you found the Swiss sponsor in Moscow who sent you to Spain...
M. Again, I was completely shocked. Though I went to Spain with mum in 1993. There I was examined, I passed the physical examination, had my heart checked... and in April 1994, I arrived there forever.
Q. How did you cope arriving there forever?
M. First 3 months was certainly a trial. I stayed with a family who spoke neither Russian nor english. To explain anything in general, in anyway, was impossible. I showed them with hand signals, and they also spoke with their hands. I remember it fondly now. But within 6 months, I could communicate without problems.
Q. Then it's better to live alone, separately?
M. Before, there was no money for me to live independently. But now, I'll rent an apartment.
Q. So you find it necessary to prepare for this transition and erase the past? Will your girlfriend help you?
M. Yes, she can help me. But I don't live with her. Generally, apartments in Valencia are very expensive. One room costs $50,000. $1000 per square metre. But this is the cost of a new apartment.
Q. Are there many Russians in Valencia?
M. No tennis players. There are footballers - Salenko and Karpin, but I don't know them. I'm a bit...
Q. Why hestitate about introducing yourself to Karpin? In my opinion, he's also from Spartak....
M. Well, he's Karpin, and I was a 14 year old boy.
Q. But you beat Agassi at Roland Garros, there's more glory in that, than in meeting Karpin.
M. The main thing is not to fear them. Many make that mistake, they are shaken, and they have to leave.
Q. Have you ever been scared of someone?
M. Yes, I've been scared. When I arrived in Spain, the whole first year was wasted because of my fear. Absolutely all of it.
Q.How do you cope with fear?
M. It is necessary to face the fear[?] I faced my situation this way: I cannot lose, it's impossible. I've come all this way to Spain, and so much depends on this. With each loss you become calmer and calmer. Time passes, and soon you fear nothing. You understand that there is nothing to be scared of.
Q.You understood this early on, before others?
M. It became clear by the age of 15! Nobody can avoid defeats. Rivals are ordinary players. Others only look at the big name, eg Agassi, and they can't cope. And Agassi? He plays from the right, from the left, with the same balls, the same raquets. Experience is on his side, but everyone starts at zero.
Q. You reached this conclusion before?
M. Yes I did, with a big thankyou to my coach. He explained it all to me. I chewed it over for 2 years. The first time it's explained to you, you don't understand. Second time around, it is clearer.
Q. In an interview, you described Kafelnikov as a brother...
M. He quite simply helped me during the Davis Cup. He explained everything, if I had any problems. For the first 2 days of matches against the Americans I couldn't hit the ball. He walked over and calmed me down, [said] it was nothing terrible.
Q. Does Russia have a chance to win the Davis Cup?
M. Why not? But a good team is a must.
Translated by Ruth.
members.nbci.com/_XMCM/msafin/sport.html
[original source]
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!!
