INTERVIEWS

Pressure, injuries and the no. 1 spot

Q: How do you see your chances of getting back into the ATP Tour Top 5 in the near future?
Kafelnikov: That's not what I'm concerned about right now. I won't be looking at the rankings on Monday. I'm just trying to give my best and get back to my game.

Q: But with no points to defend for a long time, you've got a real opportunity to move up fast now, haven't you?
Kafelnikov: Yes I have. But I'm not the only one. There are guys like Rafter and Korda, plus there's someone called Pete Sampras who's so consistent he deserves to be up there every day.

Q: You are probably one of the best allrounders on the ATP Tour, aren't you?
Kafelnikov: That's true. I've had good results on clay, good results on hard courts and have even won grass court tournaments - like the one in Halle, Germany, last year. But luck's also important at the moment. It can make or break you. Just look at the match I played against Tim Henman in the quarterfinal at Battersea. Everything hinges on one or two points. Matches can be very close thing with luck making all the difference in the end.

Q: Compared with others, you play a lot of tournaments every year. After you broke your finger, did you find it hard watching the other guys play tournaments like Melbourne?
Kafelnikov: It was hard. I watched the tournaments and saw my colleagues winning them. And I missed the tennis as well. On the other hand, I was tired after playing so much in January and enjoyed the break.

Q: Do you have a life away from the tennis courts?
Kafelnikov: Although I play so many tournaments, I really do. I have my hobbies, I go skiing, even though it isn't always ideal for my hands.

Q: Are you very popular in your country?
Kafelnikov: I'm probably more popular than soccer players, because soccer is on the way down at the moment. And I do feel some pressure when people from my country pin their hopes on me. I mean, people recognize me everywhere, they want to know how I'm playing and are expecting me to win. But sometimes I don't think people really understand what it's like being a successful tennis professional.

Q: Why?
Kafelnikov: I get so much criticism in my home country. They call me arrogant, and complain that I'm not always nice to the press. But the people travelling with you know how hard life on the circuit can be. And sometimes it can be boring as well. I've played so many tournaments, and you have to keep motivating yourself all the time. I tell you there were moments when I thought: That's enough. I want to quit!

Q: When was the last time you felt that way?
Kafelnikov: Last year, when I had this finger injury. It isn't easy to lose twice in the first round 6-0, 6-2. You can't help thinking your time is up. I don't know what kept me from quitting, probably my coach Anatoli Lepeshin.

Q: What's more important for you: winning another Grand Slam title or becoming the No.1?
Kafelnikov: I wouldn't mind winning another Grand Slam tournament but - to be honest - making the top spot wouldn't be bad either.

Q: Although you're still very young, you're already an established player on the ATP Tour. Any thoughts as to what you might do after you retire?
Kafelnikov: I've been involved in tennis for the past 16 years. So giving up isn't an easy thing to do. Sometimes you consider stopping, because you're injured or you aren't winning. As for right now, I am still happy and doing well at tennis.

Thanks to the ATP Tour Site for all the info on this page. For more interviews with other players, please check out the ATP Tour Magazine, Interviews section.