For a Feb 4 interview with Marat Safin go to with a Russian news agency go to
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5379920&startrow=1&date=2005-02-04&do_alert=0
Says he isn't in it for the money at this point, "what does it matter how much money I have? ... a man does not need much money any way."
A little easier to say that when you already have lots, but he does have a point.
Says something nice about Anna Kournikova.
Since it is a short interview, here it is in its entirety.
2005-02-04 21:03 * SPORT * RUSSIA * TENNIS * SAFIN * INTERVIEW *
MARAT SAFIN ON TENNIS, MONEY AND DOPING
MOSCOW, February 4 (RIA Novosti) - Marat Safin won the Australian Open, the first tournament in the 2005 Grand Slam. He defeated Lleyton Hewitt, the best Australian tennis player, in the final. In the semi-final, Safin beat World No. 1 Roger Federer from Switzerland. And now Marat has agreed to answer a few questions of the Russian AiF weekly.
When asked whether he believes he is following in the footsteps of the famous Agassi, who was once knocked out of the top hundred tennis players, but then became the leader, Marat said he saw no point in following anyone's line.
"Each of us should find his/her own way and follow it, despite its ups and downs. One needs to make mistakes and gain experience," believes Safin.
As for the rough period of Marat's career, he sees it as some kind of a break that gave him time to understand "what regime and what schedule he should stick to."
"The media reports saying that I had health problems, and engaged in alcohol and even drug abuse, were of course unnerving, but they also made me stronger. The conclusion is that you should not pay attention to nonsense," the tennis player said.
When asked whether he found tennis and doping compatible, Marat said that, in his opinion, "tennis players do not need doping at all, as it does not improve one's skills but can only negatively affect their performance."
The Russian tennis star assigned the recent breakthrough of Russian female tennis players to Anna Kournikova.
"Yes, you may say that she did not win any tournament, but she was the one who gave the second wind to the female tennis," Safin believes.
As for the role money plays in his life, Marat said, "Serious money gives you freedom of choice and action. But money is not a priority for me now - what does it matter how much money I have? Besides, a man does not need much money anyway."
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5379920&startrow=1&date=2005-02-04&do_alert=0
Says he isn't in it for the money at this point, "what does it matter how much money I have? ... a man does not need much money any way."
A little easier to say that when you already have lots, but he does have a point.
Says something nice about Anna Kournikova.
Since it is a short interview, here it is in its entirety.
2005-02-04 21:03 * SPORT * RUSSIA * TENNIS * SAFIN * INTERVIEW *
MARAT SAFIN ON TENNIS, MONEY AND DOPING
MOSCOW, February 4 (RIA Novosti) - Marat Safin won the Australian Open, the first tournament in the 2005 Grand Slam. He defeated Lleyton Hewitt, the best Australian tennis player, in the final. In the semi-final, Safin beat World No. 1 Roger Federer from Switzerland. And now Marat has agreed to answer a few questions of the Russian AiF weekly.
When asked whether he believes he is following in the footsteps of the famous Agassi, who was once knocked out of the top hundred tennis players, but then became the leader, Marat said he saw no point in following anyone's line.
"Each of us should find his/her own way and follow it, despite its ups and downs. One needs to make mistakes and gain experience," believes Safin.
As for the rough period of Marat's career, he sees it as some kind of a break that gave him time to understand "what regime and what schedule he should stick to."
"The media reports saying that I had health problems, and engaged in alcohol and even drug abuse, were of course unnerving, but they also made me stronger. The conclusion is that you should not pay attention to nonsense," the tennis player said.
When asked whether he found tennis and doping compatible, Marat said that, in his opinion, "tennis players do not need doping at all, as it does not improve one's skills but can only negatively affect their performance."
The Russian tennis star assigned the recent breakthrough of Russian female tennis players to Anna Kournikova.
"Yes, you may say that she did not win any tournament, but she was the one who gave the second wind to the female tennis," Safin believes.
As for the role money plays in his life, Marat said, "Serious money gives you freedom of choice and action. But money is not a priority for me now - what does it matter how much money I have? Besides, a man does not need much money anyway."
