Elena Vesnina: There are different ways of fighting depression, like chocolate and shopping
Sania, India and bananas
«You performed really well in the mixed and doubles tournaments at the Australian open, did you ever consider making these competitions your priority?»
«No, the women’s singles has always been my priority. I am still hopeful of making the top ten and winning a major tournament, so I prepare specifically for the singles matches in training. Doubles and mixed games are just a bonus.»
«What about trying this strategy in the major tournaments? Wouldn’t it be awesome to win the doubles competition at a Grand Slam tournament?»
«It really is awesome, but it isn’t easier than winning the singles. The competition in the doubles tournaments is growing rapidly. Doubles’ players are constantly improving, not just as individuals’, but also in terms of mutual understanding. So it’s not as easy as you say. Nothing is impossible, of course, but, again, that is down to your priorities – and for me other things matter more at the moment.»
«In the doubles and mixed competitions you are usually paired up with the players from India – Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. How did that come about?»
«It’s a complete coincidence. With Sania [Mirza] we agreed to be on the same team last year. Then one of us mentioned the tournaments in Doha and Dubai. At the time I wasn’t sure about pairing up with Vera Zvonareva, who had some health issues and other commitments, so Mirza and I decided to give it a go. We worked well together, so we carried on. Just before Wimbledon Sania asked me if I wanted to play in a team with Makhesh Bhupati. As I wasn’t chasing some kind of super-star partner for the competition, I agreed, and we ended up getting to the final together. It was pretty much the same with Paes, only this time it happened before the US Open. We got to the semi-final, and then in Melbourne – to the final. It was a pity that we lost.»
«You tweeted once that life is never boring with the Indian guys. Can you recall an anecdote about your times together?»
«A long time ago I departing from India with my team, had the tickets in hand, but in departures office they told me someone resold my our seats and the plane was full. It was the last flight of the day and I was about to miss a major tournament. But luckily Sania was there, and the airline was her official sponsor. She saw that I had a problem, went up to the manager and told him we have to leave one way or another. After that they had no choice but to put us on the plane home. Sanya is massively popular in India, she is a true star.»
«Many tennis professionals tend to find India uncomfortable to play in, what was your view of it?»
«I haven’t been there for a long time, maybe for five years, but I have to agree that the training conditions are not ideal there. High humidity, constant fear of getting food poisoning or disease, having to brush your teeth almost constantly and generally things are very different there. For example, when we were practicing in Bangalore, there were trees growing nearby and loads of monkey climbing around and sometimes coming down to the stands. One time a monkey saw a banana in one of the girls’ bags, grabbed it and ran away. Our ball-boy went after it, trying to rescue the banana, but the girl stopped him, saying she wouldn’t eat it anyway. So you can never know what to expect in India.»
Moscow, Sharapova and cheesecake
«How was your week in Moscow with the Russia national team?»
«I was the last one to arrive, so I wasn’t feeling great, but I was prepared to step in for one of the girls if necessary. I tried to support them, helped them do the stretches or work on their technique. But it was difficult watching the game from the stands, just sitting there and realising the only thing you can do is voice your support for them. It’s a lot easier when you depend on yourself to win or lose.»
«What is your relationship with Sharapova like? Did you get the sense that she is a little closed off?»
«We chat to each other occasionally, though I wouldn’t call us close friends. This time around she was the same as always – pretty friendly, communicative. But for Masha it is psychologically hard to play in Moscow – feels the burden of her previous defeats here. When things didn’t seem to be working out in the local tournaments, she was distraught, she wanted to end the her bad run. Maybe that is why she seemed a bit distant, but to me she seems fine.»
«Is it true that Russian female tennis players are more concerned with their image in the West [than back home – Sports.ru], as that is where the advertising money comes from?»
«Of course tennis in the West tennis gets a lot more press than in our country. Can you imagine a girl tennis player advertising a watch, or some drink or whatever? But in Europe and America it goes without saying that any reasonably well-known sportsman will be involved in advertising. Every case is different, of course, but promotional deals have a big role to play in the sport.»
«What did your get up to during your free time in Moscow?»
«I met up with a few friends. We went to the movies to see «The Grey», but I didn’t like it – way too scary for me and the ending was disappointing. I am more into films that make you think, so that you don’t merely sit back and relax, but actually learn something new. I am also not very keen on ambiguity in the endings, I need to know for sure – either all is well, or everyone died.»
«What kind of restaurants do you prefer to dine in?»
«Any kind, I don’t really have a particular preference, just as long as it is not a mix of different types. I love Italian, of course. During my time in Australia I became very fond of Chinese cuisine, which I didn’t used to like. I also like Greek cuisine – I like the flavours, and my granddad was Greek as well. We went to a Greek place in Melbourne and there were all these tennis star photos on the walls: Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and Markos Bagdatis – he was everywhere! Anyway, I like eating nice food, but I have to keep my shape in check, so no macaroni or cheesecake in the evening for me.»
Curling, Sochi and antidepressants
«Have you made the decision about going to London this summer?»
«We’ll find out after the French Open – that is the deadline to apply for the Olympics. To get into the singles team I’ll need to be in the Top-15, and Top-10 for the doubles. But Russia is not the only team where the competition is fierce – everyone would love to go to the Olympics and win a medal for their country.»
«Is it true that you were offered a place on Russia’s curling team so that you could be a part of the Olympics?»
«Where did you hear that? No, I’ve never even played curling, though it would be quite fun to try it.»
«Can you imagine how many people would come to watch you in Sochi?»
«Yeah, if only to see if I’d gone crazy. The thing is, there is a massive difference between amateur tournaments and the Olympic games. You have to be professional and strive to win, not just to have fun. Maybe I am being perfectionist, but I couldn’t do it.»
«You once said you love tennis for the intensity – it doesn’t leave any time for getting depressed. When you do, though, what helps you?»
«Above all it’s the support of my friends and relatives. A few simple words can ease the tension. When you know people believe in you, you want to work harder. But of course there are other ways – shopping and chocolate, for instance, though I have to stay within my limits. Actually, I don’t find chocolate all that effective and wouldn’t go on a sugar binge to wash away the tears. As for shoes, they are a lot harder to resist. My mum always asks: how many more? I end up wearing each pair maybe once or twice a year, and then leave them at home.»
«Who else is in your team and follows you on the WTA tour?»
«My dad is the most important and indispensible member of my team, he is always near me. Also, last year we started working with Andrey Ol’khovsky, who also sticks around. But I don’t really have the kind of «groupies» you are talking about.»
«What should Elena Vesnina’s boyfriend be like?»
«I’d struggle to describe him. When you meet someone who is spiritually close to you, it doesn’t really matter what they do. Kindness, honesty, decency – these are all basic qualities, but I value them highly. And he has to be manly, of course.
«Why did you decide to stop being blonde?»
«I just wanted something different, so I dyed my hair. Actually, I am quite pleased with the result. But who knows, maybe I’ll wake up tomorrow and will dye it blonde again.»