Kiara
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Marat Interviews
2002 NASDAQ-100 OPEN
KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA
March 27, 2002
M. SAFIN/F. Gonzalez
6-3, 6-3
An Interview With:
MARAT SAFIN
THE MODERATOR: First question for Marat, please.
Q. Goran Ivanisevic often talks about there being two Gorans. He comes on the court with two Gorans. People are beginning to think there are two Marats, one who plays great one match, who comes out and plays poorly the next. Are there two Marats out there?
MARAT SAFIN: I just think there is some days that you are not playing really well, and some days that you are just feeling in the right way and you are feeling in a good mood and you want to play. You're enjoying and you're feeling well. Two days ago I was feeling horrible. I couldn't put one ball inside the court in practice. I couldn't feel my game. Today I was feeling great. Just I played good today. Just changing, I don't know. I don't know. I would have to find out. I'm pretty happy that I can change my game in one day.
Q. Is it possible you had a good dinner last night?
MARAT SAFIN: I have a talent in this.
Q. Can you tell from practice the same day that it's a good day for you?
MARAT SAFIN: Yeah, I think, yeah, you can find out. You can find out really quickly, you know. Just practice, the way you're playing, the way you're hitting the ball, if you have timing, if you are doing well, if you are moving well, if you are happy, you know, with everything. These days you can feel that you're not hitting the ball well, just you're not feeling well, so these days you have to fight and you have to leave everything on the court even if you are not playing very well. Today on the court, I could do everything and everything was just perfect. And I played well, and I played smart, I think. Quite smart way.
Q. Lleyton Hewitt.
MARAT SAFIN: Tough match. The score is 2-all. You know, we respect each other I think. He's playing great. He made great results last week. He beat some great players in Indian Wells. He's been playing great here. But, too, you know, I am playing well. I am quite confident. I would love to play against him, and I think it's gonna be great match for spectators. We both trying to win, because it will go into the semifinals and it's great chance to win the tournament.
Q. Gambill seemed to have the key. He came out hitting for the lines from the backcourt, but also getting to the net a lot. Could that be the key that Safin's going to use?
MARAT SAFIN: Yeah, of course. Because definitely everybody knows that against Hewitt you can't stay on the baseline, just try to overpower him, just play his game. That's just stupid, you have no chance to beat him this way. You have to do something else, which is try to go to the net, try to push him from the beginning of the match until the end and not change your game. Just play your game and try to push him from the baseline, try to go to the net, just do something else. But nobody did. Quite impressive, no, guys (smiling).
Q. How do you think the surface is going to affect this match? Is it a rather slow hardcourt?
MARAT SAFIN: The courts are not really slow, but the balls are getting big because it's quite humid here. So it's gonna be -- the courts are slow. I mean, everything, together, the game is slower than last week and normal hardcourts. So it's going to be, you know, a lot of rallies, nice points, hopefully a great game for spectators, just having fun there. I think we're going to play a late match. It's going to be really nice. Really nice match. I would love to play it and I am waiting for it.
Q. Dinara received a wildcard into her next tournament. It's the first time she will play in the main draw at a WTA tournament. What do you think about that?
MARAT SAFIN: (Inaudible). I just -- it's already different season I think. Because the hardcourt season is finishing and everybody is trying to prepare themself for the clay court for Roland Garros. It's the next biggest tournament that everybody wants to win. Everybody's trying to prepare themself as much as they can and try to play as many matches as they can to get ready for this big event. You know, so they have big events like Monte-Carlo, you know, all this. So I need to prepare in the right way, and everybody's trying to win the tournaments and, you know, try to -- it's a great preparation. I think it's a great tournament to play to make matches.
Q. I mean, can you talk about the fact that she's playing first time in the main draw.
MARAT SAFIN: I played there . I played there two, three years ago in the main draw.
Q. Dinara, your sister.
MARAT SAFIN: AH, my sister. Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. My sister, it would be good. I would love to watch her first time in the main draw. It would be perfect, I think, for her. It's a great performance. I will be -- I will make coaching. Yeah, I would have to.
Q. Would that be helpful, do you think?
MARAT SAFIN: I hope so (laughter). I hope so.
Q. How tall is she?
MARAT SAFIN: I can tell you centimeters, but I cannot tell you in feet.
Q. How much shorter than you?
MARAT SAFIN: Up to here (indicating his shoulder). It's quite good.
Q. How would you describe Dinara? Is she different from you?
MARAT SAFIN: I didn't see her since long time, you know, the way she's playing, I mean, in a tournament. I saw her playing in a practice, but is two different things. So it will be good to see her playing some matches. And I don't know... If they want it, I can give her some advice. I don't think that she need, but still. I would love to watch her play.
Q. Her personality is different from yours?
MARAT SAFIN: I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Last time I saw her play in a match was in Wimbledon. Long time ago.
Q. She doesn't break racquets.
MARAT SAFIN: No. Because has not enough power to break them.
Q. Does this tournament, the way you've proceeded in this tournament at this point, remind you of the US Open where you didn't play very well for a while and then you played very well at the end.
MARAT SAFIN: I think everybody's just -- is just -- you always have tough matches in a tournament. Everybody who won the tournament, big tournaments, they had really tough matches, you know, 7-6 in the third, just playing badly, and just playing horrible. But they fought and they won the tournaments. Everybody who won this tournament or any other, they had the tough matches. So I hope it will be -- two days ago my match against Horna is going to be one of these matches that will bring me to win this title. I hope so.
2002 NASDAQ-100 OPEN
KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA
March 27, 2002
M. SAFIN/F. Gonzalez
6-3, 6-3
An Interview With:
MARAT SAFIN
THE MODERATOR: First question for Marat, please.
Q. Goran Ivanisevic often talks about there being two Gorans. He comes on the court with two Gorans. People are beginning to think there are two Marats, one who plays great one match, who comes out and plays poorly the next. Are there two Marats out there?
MARAT SAFIN: I just think there is some days that you are not playing really well, and some days that you are just feeling in the right way and you are feeling in a good mood and you want to play. You're enjoying and you're feeling well. Two days ago I was feeling horrible. I couldn't put one ball inside the court in practice. I couldn't feel my game. Today I was feeling great. Just I played good today. Just changing, I don't know. I don't know. I would have to find out. I'm pretty happy that I can change my game in one day.
Q. Is it possible you had a good dinner last night?
MARAT SAFIN: I have a talent in this.
Q. Can you tell from practice the same day that it's a good day for you?
MARAT SAFIN: Yeah, I think, yeah, you can find out. You can find out really quickly, you know. Just practice, the way you're playing, the way you're hitting the ball, if you have timing, if you are doing well, if you are moving well, if you are happy, you know, with everything. These days you can feel that you're not hitting the ball well, just you're not feeling well, so these days you have to fight and you have to leave everything on the court even if you are not playing very well. Today on the court, I could do everything and everything was just perfect. And I played well, and I played smart, I think. Quite smart way.
Q. Lleyton Hewitt.
MARAT SAFIN: Tough match. The score is 2-all. You know, we respect each other I think. He's playing great. He made great results last week. He beat some great players in Indian Wells. He's been playing great here. But, too, you know, I am playing well. I am quite confident. I would love to play against him, and I think it's gonna be great match for spectators. We both trying to win, because it will go into the semifinals and it's great chance to win the tournament.
Q. Gambill seemed to have the key. He came out hitting for the lines from the backcourt, but also getting to the net a lot. Could that be the key that Safin's going to use?
MARAT SAFIN: Yeah, of course. Because definitely everybody knows that against Hewitt you can't stay on the baseline, just try to overpower him, just play his game. That's just stupid, you have no chance to beat him this way. You have to do something else, which is try to go to the net, try to push him from the beginning of the match until the end and not change your game. Just play your game and try to push him from the baseline, try to go to the net, just do something else. But nobody did. Quite impressive, no, guys (smiling).
Q. How do you think the surface is going to affect this match? Is it a rather slow hardcourt?
MARAT SAFIN: The courts are not really slow, but the balls are getting big because it's quite humid here. So it's gonna be -- the courts are slow. I mean, everything, together, the game is slower than last week and normal hardcourts. So it's going to be, you know, a lot of rallies, nice points, hopefully a great game for spectators, just having fun there. I think we're going to play a late match. It's going to be really nice. Really nice match. I would love to play it and I am waiting for it.
Q. Dinara received a wildcard into her next tournament. It's the first time she will play in the main draw at a WTA tournament. What do you think about that?
MARAT SAFIN: (Inaudible). I just -- it's already different season I think. Because the hardcourt season is finishing and everybody is trying to prepare themself for the clay court for Roland Garros. It's the next biggest tournament that everybody wants to win. Everybody's trying to prepare themself as much as they can and try to play as many matches as they can to get ready for this big event. You know, so they have big events like Monte-Carlo, you know, all this. So I need to prepare in the right way, and everybody's trying to win the tournaments and, you know, try to -- it's a great preparation. I think it's a great tournament to play to make matches.
Q. I mean, can you talk about the fact that she's playing first time in the main draw.
MARAT SAFIN: I played there . I played there two, three years ago in the main draw.
Q. Dinara, your sister.
MARAT SAFIN: AH, my sister. Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. My sister, it would be good. I would love to watch her first time in the main draw. It would be perfect, I think, for her. It's a great performance. I will be -- I will make coaching. Yeah, I would have to.
Q. Would that be helpful, do you think?
MARAT SAFIN: I hope so (laughter). I hope so.
Q. How tall is she?
MARAT SAFIN: I can tell you centimeters, but I cannot tell you in feet.
Q. How much shorter than you?
MARAT SAFIN: Up to here (indicating his shoulder). It's quite good.
Q. How would you describe Dinara? Is she different from you?
MARAT SAFIN: I didn't see her since long time, you know, the way she's playing, I mean, in a tournament. I saw her playing in a practice, but is two different things. So it will be good to see her playing some matches. And I don't know... If they want it, I can give her some advice. I don't think that she need, but still. I would love to watch her play.
Q. Her personality is different from yours?
MARAT SAFIN: I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Last time I saw her play in a match was in Wimbledon. Long time ago.
Q. She doesn't break racquets.
MARAT SAFIN: No. Because has not enough power to break them.
Q. Does this tournament, the way you've proceeded in this tournament at this point, remind you of the US Open where you didn't play very well for a while and then you played very well at the end.
MARAT SAFIN: I think everybody's just -- is just -- you always have tough matches in a tournament. Everybody who won the tournament, big tournaments, they had really tough matches, you know, 7-6 in the third, just playing badly, and just playing horrible. But they fought and they won the tournaments. Everybody who won this tournament or any other, they had the tough matches. So I hope it will be -- two days ago my match against Horna is going to be one of these matches that will bring me to win this title. I hope so.
Ilhame kindly did a report form a interview she watched on eurosport during the Hupman Cup....Here it is thank you so much Ilhame:
There was a 15 minute show on Marat in Monaco. I think I missed a few seconds though. He hired Walt Landers as his fitness trainer and Denis was there too. Marat was really practising very hard. He said he wants to do well this year so he's putting in the hours. "Nobody likes to practice hard, but you have to", said marat.
Denis seems confident. He speaks good english by the way, easier to understand then Marat
Walt was surprised about how serious Marat is. They trained 5 times a week, 4 times to the gym and jogging once a week. This is how Marat wanted it.
Marat likes Monaco cause it's three hours flying from Moscow and only 3 hours by car from Milan. He likes the place, there are good tennis facilities and there are many players to practice with.
On December 27 he went to Moscow cause he bought a loft in Moscow and on 1 January he left for Australia. He said that they don't celebrate Christmas in Russia, but only new year's eve. The way you spend new year's eve says something about the succes you will have in a year. When he goes back home he'll throw a big party for his friends. It'll be a new year's eve party and housewarming party in one.
Marat believes that everything that happens in life is ment to be ( I detect some muslim influence there) and that's how he looked at 2003. He liked his time off court, but missed tennis too. He talked about his trip to Yosemite park. Fishing, eating the fish with potatoes and have good wine.
He drove away in a silver Porsche and went to the marina. He was standing there in front of a boat where they finished the interview. He likes to play Hopman Cup and believes it's good pactice. When he went off he signed something for a girl and said: "It's good to be famous". LOL!!
He said goodbye, wished everyone a new year and that was it))))
He wore a red shirt and when he went away he had that navy blue sweater on. He was in between clean shaved and having a few hairs on his face. His hair was not too long, not too short.
These 15 minutes have made my day!!!
There was a 15 minute show on Marat in Monaco. I think I missed a few seconds though. He hired Walt Landers as his fitness trainer and Denis was there too. Marat was really practising very hard. He said he wants to do well this year so he's putting in the hours. "Nobody likes to practice hard, but you have to", said marat.
Denis seems confident. He speaks good english by the way, easier to understand then Marat
Walt was surprised about how serious Marat is. They trained 5 times a week, 4 times to the gym and jogging once a week. This is how Marat wanted it.
Marat likes Monaco cause it's three hours flying from Moscow and only 3 hours by car from Milan. He likes the place, there are good tennis facilities and there are many players to practice with.
On December 27 he went to Moscow cause he bought a loft in Moscow and on 1 January he left for Australia. He said that they don't celebrate Christmas in Russia, but only new year's eve. The way you spend new year's eve says something about the succes you will have in a year. When he goes back home he'll throw a big party for his friends. It'll be a new year's eve party and housewarming party in one.
Marat believes that everything that happens in life is ment to be ( I detect some muslim influence there) and that's how he looked at 2003. He liked his time off court, but missed tennis too. He talked about his trip to Yosemite park. Fishing, eating the fish with potatoes and have good wine.
He drove away in a silver Porsche and went to the marina. He was standing there in front of a boat where they finished the interview. He likes to play Hopman Cup and believes it's good pactice. When he went off he signed something for a girl and said: "It's good to be famous". LOL!!
He said goodbye, wished everyone a new year and that was it
)))) He wore a red shirt and when he went away he had that navy blue sweater on. He was in between clean shaved and having a few hairs on his face. His hair was not too long, not too short.
These 15 minutes have made my day!!!
Great report!
Suprised he mentioned Xmas as he is Muslim
Sometimes its the injuries that make you realize what you have...Still needs a coach, I believe.
Can't wait for Marat to show up in Roddick's reality show, kicking @ss (no, Roddick will probably edit that out! Lol)
Suprised he mentioned Xmas as he is Muslim
Sometimes its the injuries that make you realize what you have...Still needs a coach, I believe.
Can't wait for Marat to show up in Roddick's reality show, kicking @ss (no, Roddick will probably edit that out! Lol)
Yeah, we don't celebrate Christmas much in Russia, still no big tradition about it
But New Year's Eve is really huge
And Marat mentioned our famous Russian expression "How you meet new Year (spend this night), that's how you'll spend the whole year"
We always say it in Sylvester
But New Year's Eve is really huge
And Marat mentioned our famous Russian expression "How you meet new Year (spend this night), that's how you'll spend the whole year"
We always say it in Sylvester
Thanks for those interviews. I enjoyed reading those, especially revisiting the Sampras USO2000 match!
Marat is without a doubt the best player at giving interviews. He comes up with the funniest quotes, with his quirky combination of silliness and wisdom.
Marat is without a doubt the best player at giving interviews. He comes up with the funniest quotes, with his quirky combination of silliness and wisdom.
Excellent Monsieur Q. ! I knew you were a classy man that's why I start calling you that way
So I shall calling you Monsieur now since I know you liked it !
Please do not blush....it's true I always really enjoy reading your posts...you are always polite, respectful and seems really open to all the cultures and different ideas...I loves it !
Cheers
So I shall calling you Monsieur now since I know you liked it !
Please do not blush....it's true I always really enjoy reading your posts...you are always polite, respectful and seems really open to all the cultures and different ideas...I loves it !
Cheers
Sorry if this has been posted in a differant thread, there are so many new articles and interviews running around I hardly know what to do with myself!
------------------------------------------------------------------
This is Liz's transcript of Marat interview from Monday's match
---------------------------------------------------------------
*clears throat* Mmhhhm yeah I had a wrist problem for about six months, so I had to go from doctor to a doctor and try to, to see what is going on with me and my wrist because nobody could give me uhh any advice on what I should do and how I can recover, recover from this injury and uhh but with time it went away the pain and now I am fit. I was preparing my self for a month in France so it was good.
How frustrating was last year?
Uhh I try to forget about it, it was, it was really bad
Your down to #77 in the World you have been World #1 do you believe you cna get back there?
I will try see I mean I still have the year infront of me, I have no points to defend, but it depends how I start this year, I mean I need to get some confidence back and hopefully it will be ok
You have been described as brilliant and unpredicatble, how would you describe yourself?
*ponders* Same as you said
You think so?
Yeah I say compliment also! I take it
What about on court, sometimes, well you are unpredictable aswell
*scratches head* I mean, but it's *clears throat* That is just me, I cannot change myself. It's it's the way I'm playing, unfourtnately sometimes I have very big downs and then its uuhhhmmm, there is lots of ups and downs so basically you have to deal with it and try to look forward and try to forget about uhh uhhh bad losses and try to be more positive.
How much of tennis is a mental battle for you?
Basically it's uhhhh 75% the rest is just fitness and uhh thats it.
You've been through a few coaches in the last few years, who are working with now?
*clears throat* Since I try, since I started last year with a guy, he is my friend and I used to play before (something or other) so I decided to take him because he knows me very well and he can travel with me all the year, thats what I needed a person, someone with me full time. Before I couldn't get it because nobody, no ex-players they wont do it because it's really hard work, you know being a coach on the ATP tour you have to travel and you don't really have a family so basically it's difficult for them.
US Open, win, obviously a career highlight?
Yeah, but it was a long time ago, but I have to remem.....repeat this feeling so...
This year can we see a Grand Slam or is it to early?
Aahh I am looking forward, Australia is in 2 weeks so umm I hope I can start the year well I mean the first rounds will be great, to play some matches, some tough ones but with my running I can play any player, any seeded player
Now you always have your leigion of female fans, are we going to see the Safinettes at the Australia Open again?
NO NO NO NO NO NO, I am more serious, I am trying to focus on tennis, so no there will not be any no no
So the girls won't be there this year?
No NO No
But you made the final? 2 years ago?
*Marat stares at her clueless for a moment and sighs* But now I am a bit 2 years older and I am a little bit smarter so I can do it without the girls
What do you like to do outside of tennis?
Watch some movies, read some books, interested in music , you know try to have a great time. This week will be casino, try to spend some money or maybe if I am lucky I win some *grins* So you know, I try to have fun.
And your goals for this year?
Try to get back to where I was, where I was before, it's uhh a long way, it's a difficult one, but also the year is starting so I have to...to, you know it's time to wake up!
------------------------------------------------------------------
This is Liz's transcript of Marat interview from Monday's match
---------------------------------------------------------------
*clears throat* Mmhhhm yeah I had a wrist problem for about six months, so I had to go from doctor to a doctor and try to, to see what is going on with me and my wrist because nobody could give me uhh any advice on what I should do and how I can recover, recover from this injury and uhh but with time it went away the pain and now I am fit. I was preparing my self for a month in France so it was good.
How frustrating was last year?
Uhh I try to forget about it, it was, it was really bad
Your down to #77 in the World you have been World #1 do you believe you cna get back there?
I will try see I mean I still have the year infront of me, I have no points to defend, but it depends how I start this year, I mean I need to get some confidence back and hopefully it will be ok
You have been described as brilliant and unpredicatble, how would you describe yourself?
*ponders* Same as you said
You think so?
Yeah I say compliment also! I take it
What about on court, sometimes, well you are unpredictable aswell
*scratches head* I mean, but it's *clears throat* That is just me, I cannot change myself. It's it's the way I'm playing, unfourtnately sometimes I have very big downs and then its uuhhhmmm, there is lots of ups and downs so basically you have to deal with it and try to look forward and try to forget about uhh uhhh bad losses and try to be more positive.
How much of tennis is a mental battle for you?
Basically it's uhhhh 75% the rest is just fitness and uhh thats it.
You've been through a few coaches in the last few years, who are working with now?
*clears throat* Since I try, since I started last year with a guy, he is my friend and I used to play before (something or other) so I decided to take him because he knows me very well and he can travel with me all the year, thats what I needed a person, someone with me full time. Before I couldn't get it because nobody, no ex-players they wont do it because it's really hard work, you know being a coach on the ATP tour you have to travel and you don't really have a family so basically it's difficult for them.
US Open, win, obviously a career highlight?
Yeah, but it was a long time ago, but I have to remem.....repeat this feeling so...
This year can we see a Grand Slam or is it to early?
Aahh I am looking forward, Australia is in 2 weeks so umm I hope I can start the year well I mean the first rounds will be great, to play some matches, some tough ones but with my running I can play any player, any seeded player
Now you always have your leigion of female fans, are we going to see the Safinettes at the Australia Open again?
NO NO NO NO NO NO, I am more serious, I am trying to focus on tennis, so no there will not be any no no
So the girls won't be there this year?
No NO No
But you made the final? 2 years ago?
*Marat stares at her clueless for a moment and sighs* But now I am a bit 2 years older and I am a little bit smarter so I can do it without the girls
What do you like to do outside of tennis?
Watch some movies, read some books, interested in music , you know try to have a great time. This week will be casino, try to spend some money or maybe if I am lucky I win some *grins* So you know, I try to have fun.
And your goals for this year?
Try to get back to where I was, where I was before, it's uhh a long way, it's a difficult one, but also the year is starting so I have to...to, you know it's time to wake up!
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
