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Bubka looking to scale heights
Monday, 20 January, 2003
by Martin Cox
As the junior competition kicks off at Australian Open 2003, most matches are surrounded by very little fanfare on the back courts of Melbourne Park.
The crowd at most junior matches is made up predominantly of coaches, friends, family and a few player agents. But out on court 13 there was a small army of cameras focusing on Ukrainian Sergei Bubka Jr.
His father, Sergei Bubka Sr. was the greatest pole vaulter the world has seen. He set 14 world records throughout his illustrious career and the last record, which he set back in 1994, still stands today.
At this stage the 15-year-old's biggest claim to fame is being a son, but as one of the youngest players in the tournament he has plenty of time to make a name for himself and achieve his goal of one day competing on the professional circuit.
In his first Grand Slam match, Bubka Jr. went down in straight sets to 17-year-old Romanian Florin Mergea, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2).
After struggling in the first set on a scorching Melbourne afternoon, he fought gallantly in the second, holding serve for the whole set before going down in a tiebreak.
Bubka Sr. attracted a brand new audience to his sport. After missing the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 when his country boycotted, he won gold at Seoul in 1988.
A national hero in his homeland, he is now a member of parliament in the Ukraine, although his son is based in Monaco where he avoids the hype.
While Bubka Jr. is too young to remember his father's Olympic glory, he draws inspiration from watching the World Championships in 1997.
"In Athens '97 when he was injured all year, it was his first competition after the injury, and he won the World Championships. That was I think his last big victory," he recalled.
Bubka Jr. doesn't feel under any pressure to live up to his father's reputation and he finds it strange to be recognised on the other side of the world.
"It's strange because many people come to you and say, 'You're the son of a famous father.' I think it's different to other people," he said in a packed press conference.
The publicity surrounding him is something he has learned to get used to, although he hopes to one day be famous on his own merit.
Although he has tried pole vault and enjoys it, an athletics career is not on the agenda for the youngster.
"I tried it (pole vaulting) once just for fun. It's a fun sport but I prefer tennis," said Bubka Jr., who has been able to beat his father at tennis since he was nine.
While Dad cannot give him much advice on playing tennis, Bubka Jr. can still learn plenty from having another athlete in the family.
"He mainly just gives me advice about my attitude on the court - that I should fight."
Although he attends as an international school in Monaco, he is forced to complete some of his studies on the road in between playing tennis.
This year he hopes to play in all of the junior Grand Slams and maybe start to play some satellite events.
Although he will never reach the heights that his father reached in pole vault, Sergei Bubka Jr. may continue his father's legacy on the tennis court.
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Monday, 20 January, 2003
by Martin Cox
As the junior competition kicks off at Australian Open 2003, most matches are surrounded by very little fanfare on the back courts of Melbourne Park.
The crowd at most junior matches is made up predominantly of coaches, friends, family and a few player agents. But out on court 13 there was a small army of cameras focusing on Ukrainian Sergei Bubka Jr.
His father, Sergei Bubka Sr. was the greatest pole vaulter the world has seen. He set 14 world records throughout his illustrious career and the last record, which he set back in 1994, still stands today.
At this stage the 15-year-old's biggest claim to fame is being a son, but as one of the youngest players in the tournament he has plenty of time to make a name for himself and achieve his goal of one day competing on the professional circuit.
In his first Grand Slam match, Bubka Jr. went down in straight sets to 17-year-old Romanian Florin Mergea, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2).
After struggling in the first set on a scorching Melbourne afternoon, he fought gallantly in the second, holding serve for the whole set before going down in a tiebreak.
Bubka Sr. attracted a brand new audience to his sport. After missing the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 when his country boycotted, he won gold at Seoul in 1988.
A national hero in his homeland, he is now a member of parliament in the Ukraine, although his son is based in Monaco where he avoids the hype.
While Bubka Jr. is too young to remember his father's Olympic glory, he draws inspiration from watching the World Championships in 1997.
"In Athens '97 when he was injured all year, it was his first competition after the injury, and he won the World Championships. That was I think his last big victory," he recalled.
Bubka Jr. doesn't feel under any pressure to live up to his father's reputation and he finds it strange to be recognised on the other side of the world.
"It's strange because many people come to you and say, 'You're the son of a famous father.' I think it's different to other people," he said in a packed press conference.
The publicity surrounding him is something he has learned to get used to, although he hopes to one day be famous on his own merit.
Although he has tried pole vault and enjoys it, an athletics career is not on the agenda for the youngster.
"I tried it (pole vaulting) once just for fun. It's a fun sport but I prefer tennis," said Bubka Jr., who has been able to beat his father at tennis since he was nine.
While Dad cannot give him much advice on playing tennis, Bubka Jr. can still learn plenty from having another athlete in the family.
"He mainly just gives me advice about my attitude on the court - that I should fight."
Although he attends as an international school in Monaco, he is forced to complete some of his studies on the road in between playing tennis.
This year he hopes to play in all of the junior Grand Slams and maybe start to play some satellite events.
Although he will never reach the heights that his father reached in pole vault, Sergei Bubka Jr. may continue his father's legacy on the tennis court.
