AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 20, 2003

Sergei Bubka

SERGEI BUBKA: Yeah, I am pretty surprised. First time I'm doing interview so many people, yeah (smiling).

SERGEI BUBKA: Yeah, I'm used to it. I wish one day it will be about me.

SERGEI BUBKA: I started playing tennis when I was seven. My mother took me to a friend who is a tennis coach. I tried it, I liked it a lot. About pole vaulting, I tried it once just for fun. It's a fun sport, but I prefer tennis.

SERGEI BUBKA: Yes, he's been helping me already for about seven years, since I started. He's working together with another Austrian coach, my full-time coach.

SERGEI BUBKA: Thomas Bischof from Austria. They're working together, both helping me a lot.

SERGEI BUBKA: We had two practice weeks in Monaco with other players.

SERGEI BUBKA: He just gave me advice like how I should play. He was also here for the first two weeks, but he left last week.

SERGEI BUBKA: It's strange because many people come to you and say, "You're the son of a famous father." I think it's different to other people.

SERGEI BUBKA: I want to be a professional tennis player.

SERGEI BUBKA: No, not yet. I really want to play tennis.

SERGEI BUBKA: I go to school in Monaco. It's an international school. When I'm at home, I go to school. When I'm on trips, I do some work while I'm away, not to be too far behind everyone else.

SERGEI BUBKA: After he stopped, he's playing more and more tennis. He also likes the sport. He's improving also.

SERGEI BUBKA: Yeah (smiling).

SERGEI BUBKA: At what age? I'd say around 9, 10.

SERGEI BUBKA: He just plays for fun, so he takes it normally.

SERGEI BUBKA: I have a brother who is 17, his name is Vitaly. He also plays tennis. He doesn't play as much as me, though.

SERGEI BUBKA: Yeah. My goal is to be an -- is to attack, to come to the net. I have a good serve, so I hope so.

SERGEI BUBKA: About 185, 186.

SERGEI BUBKA: Almost 16. 16 in February.

SERGEI BUBKA: Most memorable was in Athens '97 when he was injured all year, it was his first competition after the injury, and he won the World Championships. That was I think his last big victory.

SERGEI BUBKA: No, never practically. Sometimes, maybe once or twice per year.

SERGEI BUBKA: Oh, he's very famous with the people. They like him there. He got awarded Hero of Ukraine. Now he's in the parliament also. He got elected there also. He's very popular with the people. They like him. With me, I live in Monaco. I don't go so much to Ukraine. I'm not so much known.

SERGEI BUBKA: In Kiev, I'd go maybe twice, two weeks a year. I go mostly to Donestk, which is where my family comes from. I go there not so often, twice a year maybe.

SERGEI BUBKA: When I was small, it was of course Agassi and Sampras I liked the best. But now I really like Safin. I like his game style and everything.

SERGEI BUBKA: Well, a long time ago, when he still lived in Monaco. Now he's mainly in Kiev. I didn't see him for a long time now.

SERGEI BUBKA: I'm not sure now.

SERGEI BUBKA: Yes. When my father was helping him, I saw him quite often. He came around, yeah.

SERGEI BUBKA: Yeah, I played when it was hotter. When I started, it was not sunny. The sun came out by the end of the match. Here I'm already here three weeks, so I'm used to the heat.

SERGEI BUBKA: No. He mainly just gives me advice about how I should -- about my attitude on the court, that I should fight. But physically, I have my own physical coach. Physically, he doesn't help me.

SERGEI BUBKA: Yeah, that's my goal. I hope I get in.

SERGEI BUBKA: It's about 150.

SERGEI BUBKA: Well, my main goal is, like I said, to play junior Grand Slams this year. We're thinking about maybe starting to play satellite this year. If it goes well, then play more and more.

SERGEI BUBKA: Just very low. It was just like starting. Just got over.

SERGEI BUBKA: No, I don't remember. It was a few years ago.