25 ноября 2015, 20:11 11 мин.

Интервью Марии на Теннис Чаннел - часть 2

Денни Тенн

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Автор: tennisfanka

Это интервью могли увидеть только те, у кого есть Теннис Чаннел.

А таких среди нас очень мало.

Поэтому tennisfanka сделала то, что никто не ожидал - подготовила для нас текст интервью!

Отличная работа, огромное спасибо Вам, tennisfanka!

Будет и перевод на русском.

“Holding serve with Maria Sharapova”

Ссылка на первую часть интервью (всего 2 части):

1. английский вариант (оригинал)

http://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/dennytenn/862381.html

2. перевод на русский первой части интервью

http://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/dennytenn/862567.html

Вторая часть 2:

Travel back in time to Russia where her life and tennis career all began…

Brett: Let’s go backwards to the beginning…what do you remember about life in Russia before you came to the States?

MS: What do I remember about Russia? Well I moved quite a bit when I was young because when I was born in Siberia, and after a year or so we moved back to Belarus where my parents were from, then headed to Sochi which was a completely different climate, different part of the world – that’s where I started and began my tennis career. So I have little bits of pieces of memories. I was always surrounded by my family which is a small family. I don’t come from a huge family of aunts and uncles. So I was always surrounded by my parents, my grandparents whether we were going to the park or going to the Black Sea. So those are my childhood memories. Playing tennis kind of just become like this thing when I was 4.5 years old. Besides that not much (laughing)

Brett: And so as important as family was to you to have to separate from your mother at age 7 to come to the US…we know that that’s a part of your personal story. I can’t imagine what that must had been like…what was it like?

MS: I think the perspective from my mom is always more interesting to hear. Because I was a young girl, I had moved to Florida, I was at the tennis academy, practicing and learning a new language, I was surrounded by kids that don’t shut up, I mean I was having a great time. So I know that of course at a young age your mother is so influential and it’s so nice to have that family support but I didn’t…it’s funny…I was sad not to be able to see her every day but I was so caught up in what I was doing and I was so driven every day – wake up 6 in the morning, you have your first lesson at 6:45 with Nick Bolletieri, and you just kept doing that. And then you go play tournaments on the weekends, and then 2 years later just time rolls by.

Brett: Was there ever a doubt that you would make it as a pro. And if there was an ounce of doubt, which is would be natural, what was the back up plan?

MS: I don’t think there was a back up plan (laughing). You’d have to ask my dad but I don’t think that was in the cards. He was so determined and he was…I think what separated him from may be different examples was that he didn’t take “no” for an answer when he was travelling around Florida, having me work with different coaches. You know financially it was a problem he’d find a way to make up for it later, he just didn’t take “no” for an answer and I followed that. I watched him because he knew he wasn’t great at being a tennis coach because he was just a father, he didn’t grow up…he just liked tennis. He took me to all different places, and coaches to teach me different parts of this sport and I grew up with that, and as he travelled he learned himself and at the end of it all he became a great coach for me.

Brett: That whole not taking “no” for an answer seems to have rubbed off on you.

MS: Yes, I am a stubborn piece…

Brett: So you raised from 7 on in America, you sound like an American but you are Russian, you are proud of your Russian heritage, you play Olympics and Fed Cup for Russia. How do you feel in your heart, what do you feel like…

MS: It’s interesting because I grew up in the Russian culture and I think when you are very young the things that you grew up in you hold very close to your heart, I think those are some very vivid memories. The culture that I’ve been a part of for the last however many years in the United States I’ve adapted to it so much, I’ve learned so much, I’ve created friends here, I’ve created an incredible profession but yeah when I am home everything around me is Russian, I am speaking Russian at home, as far as food when I am home that’s the first thing I want to eat when I am back from the long trip is the Russian cooked meal…

Brett: Borsch?

MS: Borsch…or dumplings…or crepes - the Russian oladyis…Yeah so its funny I am able to carry so much of both but my feeling inside is very much Russian when I am at home.

Legacy in the Sport and Personal Relationships.

Brett: So having achieved everything that you’ve achieved in the sport, what turns you on still about tennis? What motivates you to do the work that you need to do now?

MS: In a way it’s almost a selfish feeling but as somebody that’s done something since they were so young and then has progressed in many ways as the junior to a professional to a Grand Slam champion - I’ve always felt that that’s the one thing that I know best, that I feel best at, that I feel that I can be better at, and I think as a woman it’s a nice feeling to feel like you are powerful at what you do.

I think when you love something it really shows in your eyes and I’ve always felt that when I am on the court I am able to be in my bubble no matter what’s going on in my life, no matter how good or bad…I treated it as my therapy in many ways, I forget about everything and I dedicate those few hours to being a tennis player.

Brett: Friends…you’ve talked about friendships and you have a lot away from the game. But you’ve been pretty candid about the fact that you don’t develop many close friendships with the players against whom you play. Is that just a function of that it’s very difficult to make friends with people whose ass you kicking at the regular basis?

MS: Are you allowed to say ass?

Brett: I just did, and so did you (laughing)

MS: I did…(smiling)

No…I’ve developed friendships along at the beginning of my career with very different people – some in tennis, some in other sports, some in completely different businesses so I feel like there is no reason to have a friend just to have a friend. I think friendships are much more than that, than just someone to have dinner with.

Brett: Friendships are one thing, relationships are another thing. Healthy constructive relationships are complicated for all of us.

MS: Right…

Brett: What is the most complicated thing….

MS: Healthy constructive relationships…(smiling)…can you write that down for me? I’ve never heard of that (laughing)

Brett: Well…have you ever been in one?

MS: Does it exist? (laughing)

Brett: I don’t know…it doesn’t exist?

MS: Not in my life…(laughing)

Brett: Answer at least to my question and if it’s not complicated for all of us what is the most complicated part of finding that when you are Maria Sharapova?

MS: Well when you make it sound like that (laughing) sounds terrible (laughing).

Brett: Well it doesn’t sound like too much to ask for, does it?

MS: No, it’s not. One of the toughest things is the travel. The travel and the schedule and it’s kind of like you have a set schedule - these are the weeks that I’m there and if you want to make it work around my schedule be my guest (laughing)

Brett: But that’s a fair thing because of what you do for the living and we also both know that that’s not always how relationships work – it can’t be one way traffic right?

MS: No, no, it’s not…well that’s probably why I’m single… (laughing)

Yeah…it’s an interesting balance because...I don’t actually like to use the word balance but you have to find the way to...you have to be so committed to what you do and make the most out of your career and then you have…I mean I love family and I have been surrounded by my family ever since I was born, so it’s a huge part of my life and I would love to be able to connect the two.

Brett: I am not going to dwell on this for too long but…put yourself in a guy’s shoes for just one second…would you be intimidated to ask Maria Sharapova out?

MS: I mean I hope not…I don’t know…(laughing)…I don’t think I am so bad or so intimidating..

Brett: You are not bad, but you are powerful and an elite athlete…

MS: What does powerful mean?

Brett: You are business icon, you are sports icon…

MS: But I am still human…

Brett: Do people not get that?

MS: I mean you are making it sound like they don’t (laughing)

Brett: No, I think it’s part of the problem that people don’t understand that you are not intimidating!

MS: I certainly agree…Right…I don’t know…who cares? (laughing)

Brett: All right.

What do you see your life looking like in 20 years? What do you see yourself doing? Is it family? Is it kids? Is it a lot of kids?

MS: Yeah, it is, very much so…I mean…look, I am young and I have a lot of energy and I still hope that at that time I will have continue to have a lot of energy but I certainly want to be a mother and I want to be a good wife and I want all those things but you never know where life will take you and I think that’s the special thing about it…is that you know you wake up in the morning, you have a plan and my dad always told me: “you make a plan and god laughs at your plans”. So I try, even though I know I have a set schedule and I know what I am doing, but you know I don’t want to worry about what’s going to happen in 20 years.

Brett: At the beginning we talked about indirectly legacy – completing the career grand slam - cemented your legacy, what do you want it to be, beyond titles and trophies?

MS: I feel like I am still creating my legacy as the tennis player and as the person, as the daughter…There is much more to life than playing tennis, and it’s from the moment you wake up and from the moment you go to sleep, you have so many life responsibilities and I am still learning, I have so much to learn. You know I try to be great at many things but as I realize that’s impossible – you know you have to focus on one thing and you have to dedicate yourself to one thing and then you have to work on the others, and try to get yourself good and I hope…I don’t like to use the word legacy, just like brand – it’s like dramatizing (laughing)….traumatizing and it’s full of drama, so I like to keep things very simple and I just like to improve and get better and listen, if that brings me titles great, if it doesn’t it doesn’t change who I am. I still have plenty of time to work as a daughter, as a girlfriend or as a wife or mother or all those things…

Brett: Maria, thank you so much. Appreciate it.

MS: Of course, thank you, no problem.