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US Open Day One Biofile with Evgeny Korolev
2 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 180
DOB: Feb. 14, 1988 In: Moscow, Russia
First Tennis Memory: “To be honest, I don’t remember it. I remember I was playing – I think I throw the racquet once. First time my mom brought me to tennis because I loved always ice hockey. She brought me to tennis. They say you have to catch the ball and bounce it off the strings. I said No I want to try and play. So I throw the racquet and balls (and say), Go and play yourself. I was 4 1/2 years old. I kind of had my father’s character. He was an ice hockey player. That’s my first memories of tennis.”
Tennis Inspirations: “Hard work. Music. Hard work inspires.”
Tennis Heroes: “I’m hero – myself.”
Nicknames: “Jeff. And now Prince of Kazakhstan.”
Hobbies/Interests: “I love playing ice hockey. Enjoying music. Hard rock music. Enjoy movies. Enjoy watch sports like ice hockey, basketball. I really like Miami Heat. I do boxing myself for my practice.”
Last Book Read: “Russian book called Czar.”
Favorite Movies: “I like the Heat. Russian movies like Brigada, Bumer.”
Favorite TV Show: “None.”
Musical Tastes: “Metallica, Creed, Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, Elvis, Russian rap, Russian underground.”
Favorite Meal: “I really like meat, I eat anything.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”
Current Car: “That’s a secret [laughs]. It’s a good car.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “A lot of good tennis matches, a lot of good matches I won. A lot of good matches I lost but I had a good experience. My best result was finals of Delray last year. (The best is still coming, right?) Yeah, I hope so. Thank you.”
Most Painful Moment: “It’s always kind of painful when you lose. But nothing special. Maybe losing finals in Delray.”
Favorite Tournaments: “My favorite tournament was Las Vegas – but they cancelled. Delray is my favorite tournament.”
Closest Tennis Friends: “They’re my buddies. My closest friends are outside tennis – but they do play tennis.”
Funniest Player Encountered: “Probably me [smiles]. I never really thought about it. Probably McEnroe.”
Toughest Competitors: “I would say I have a bad result against Federer. I would say he’s the toughest competitor probably.”
Funny Tennis Memory: “I’m a serious guy [smiles].”
Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Tough questions, dude. Once against Nieminen I lost 0 and 0 in Miami. But I was working very hard with my physical therapy – I did a lot of weights and running – I did a little too much. I’m very tired, stiff. Then I go on the court and I’m off in 40 minutes. I hope it’s not gonna happen next time I play him.”
Favorite Players To Watch: “I like the good matches. I like to watch tennis a lot.”
Last Vacation: “End of November till first week of December – Miami Beach.”
What’s The Best You Ever Felt On Court: “I had a couple matches and tournaments where I felt really good. Maybe I played Bangkok really well last year. I beat Santoro, Ginepri and I lost quarters to Simon three sets. It was a really tough, good match. I think I played really good match with him.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “I want to see…like to see straight people. I like to see people that are straight, they don’t lie. Original people. Talk with you like they are, not fake one, like, Hey what’s up? But I’m not really a guy who talks with a lot of people, I’m with my friends and my family, that’s pretty much it. I’m not really open to everybody. I don’t know if that’s good or bad but that’s me. But I’m very true with people that I speak to. I’m very straight.”
More Biofiles at www.thebiofile.com
"So I throw the racquet and balls and say · Go and play yourself."
Ken · August 30, 2010 at 6:29 pm
You jinxed him!
Scoop Malinowski · August 31, 2010 at 1:23 pm
You might be right Ken, The Prince of Kazakhstan went down meekly to Kei Nishikori who we all know can play some phenomenal tennis in New York. Just ask David Ferrer.