MY OWN GAME

Interviewed: Elena Olkhovskaya

Svetlana Kuznetsova is a well-known Russian tennis player who has six victories over the current “first” rackets of the world in her archive. When her name, along with the names of other Russians, appears in the list of players of the most prestigious international tennis tournaments, these competitions attract increased attention, both fans and the press.

It is almost impossible to find the famous Petersburger between training and games, but we managed to briefly talk with Svetlana about Dubai, about victories and defeats, about love for sports and plans for the future.

Svetlana, for you the open Dubai tennis tournament is not news. You have been performing at it for many years in a row. What does participating in the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships mean to you?

For me, the tournament in Dubai in 2010 is already the eighth. And, despite the fact that this year I was unable to reach even the quarterfinals, I really like to come to the Emirates. I was here in December, preparing for the championship, trained for three weeks. We have a very busy schedule - ten months of the year tournaments. And only twice a year there is time to prepare for the games - in July and in December (in front of Australia) for three weeks. I came here after learning that Roger Federer is training here and that the conditions are good. I once lived in Spain for seven years, where I moved from Moscow. And I'm drawn to the heat all the time. And in the Emirates it is warm and there are many Russians. I really like to train here and communicate with compatriots, my friends. The situation here is cool, it’s not far to fly from Moscow, the time does not differ from Moscow.

But, first of all, Dubai for me is very good memories. When I first came here, in the WTA ranking I was on the 30th line. And then two tournaments in Dubai and Doha (they used to go next) allowed me to rise to the top of the ranking. I like the tournament here as a whole, it's cool, I always look forward to it.

What role do you assign to the press in covering the tournaments in which you participate?

It seems to me that modern glossy magazines, especially in Russian abroad, are very important, as this is a huge support for us and for the fans. Arriving at a tournament in Dubai, I always expect that journalists interested in interviews will definitely make their way to us. Before, a person who always drove us around the city, showed everything, told us was always attached to us. Now, of course, I myself whoever you want to spend in Dubai, this city has become so close. At tournaments abroad, it is important for us to support compatriots in the stands, and how can they learn about games, if not from Russian magazines or from sites.

Which of your rivals can you name the strongest? Who is the most difficult for you to play with?

It was always inconvenient for me to play with Justin Enin. I liked and like (since she returned to the court) to play with her, but I won her only two times, and lost fifteen or seventeen times. She plays important moments well and is not afraid to take risks. But for me, playing with her is a challenge to herself. It’s hard for me to play with Nastya Myskina. We had very difficult moments in the matches.

Svetlana, honestly, do you plan to participate in the Dubai tournament until you win it?

Yes, and I will come further. You know, according to the rules of the international federation, since last year we have a list of mandatory tournaments, where four out of five must be selected. The Dubai tournament is on this list, and I am happy to choose it. In addition, our calendar is so complicated that during the tournament in Dubai, there are practically no others.

Do you have time to rest?

Right now I didn’t go to the quarter finals, and I got three days to rest, so I stayed here longer. And if you play well, then there is no time for rest (laughs). Last year I was well prepared, but so far I am not good at playing. I know that I can show, and my results do not please me. It hurts. In tennis, all preparatory work should return in the form of a good game in the future. But there really is no time to rest. Before Dubai was Australia, after America for a month, then Europe: Stuttgart, Rome, Madrid, Paris, then London. Then in July there will be a short respite, then America again, and after it - China, Japan and at the end of the year Doha. This is my year, the calendar in which I play. This is the average schedule that will allow me to play for a greater number of years without giving my best.

Today, Russian tennis players occupy the top ranks of the ratings of the best racquets in the world. How do foreign rivals feel about you?

Strong performances of Russian tennis players in the international arena began around 2004. If we talk about women's tennis, then Nastya Myskina won Roland Garos, Masha Sharapova - Wimbledon, I won the US Open, I was only 19 years old. Plus we won the Federation Cup. It was a very successful year for me, and for our entire team, and for Russia. In that year, it began in the foreign press - “ova” go! ”, Because Russian women's names have the ending“ ova ”. The most popular question was: "Why is tennis so popular and so developed in Russia?" It reached the point of absurdity - we play the eight, of which four are Russians. The eight best players in the world are Russians. Or, when selecting for the Olympics, you must be in the top ten, and if you are the eleventh, then you do not get into the Olympic team. And there are countries where even one player is not. Like this.

It seems to me that our tennis players and tennis players are traditionally strong because we are not spoiled by sponsor money, like many Western athletes. Each of us went our own way. We all grew up thanks to our parents. And how many talented people could not get into big sport simply because their parents did not have the means. Our mentality is different, and the will to win is different. We go ahead, with all our might. And when we reach the heights, then you cannot sweeten with us.

Remember the famous match between Andre Agassi and Roger Federer, they played on the helipad of the hotel Burj Al Arab? Never had the desire to climb such a peak?

Oh, No. They say they were scared there, but I'm generally afraid of heights. Although, it’s interesting, probably, to try. Now there are a lot of different PR chips to make tennis even more popular. Many of us are invited to become the "faces" of leading watch or fashion brands. I think this is very hard work. It’s easier for me to work 5-6 hours on the court than to take part in any photo session.

How much serious support does the Russian Tennis Federation provide you and your colleagues?

Nobody supports us at all. Everyone, apparently, believes that we already make good enough money, so there is no need to support us. It's a shame, of course. Probably our sports officials have their own problems. Everyone believes that we should only play and, for some reason, do it for free. Athletes generally have such a fate, if we win - they lift us up to heaven, no matter what we did, we lose - they dip in the mud so that you just wonder how people get it.

Today we do not have good trainers. Not like novice athletes, even the elite cannot find good coaches. There are very few people who are able to put their soul into an athlete. Everyone wants money. In Russia, there are not even normal conditions for training. Maybe in the future I will start to create groups of athletes and raise them to the right level. In the meantime, you have to work yourself, a lot and hard.

Thank you and good luck, Svetlana. Not only on the courts, but also in life.

Third line in WTA ranking

Despite the not-so-successful performance at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, Svetlana Kuznetsova rose to third place in the ranking of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). In a new publication dated February 22, 2010, Svetlana is second only to American Serena Williams and compatriot Dinara Safina. Svetlana is ahead of Danish Caroline Wozniacki by only 5 points.