Tennis & Sports

Most inspirational player/athlete (past or present)?
Michael Jordan, because of his consistency and greatness all the time. Tennis wise, I would say John McEnroe. I always loved watching him play, watching him compete and I just liked his style of play, serve and volley. He had a fabulous touch around the net and he had great hands so I think he was exciting. I liked to watch him, but he played such a different style from me, he took the ball early. The only thing I copy him on is I string my rackets as loose as he does, 47lbs, but he is a great great player.

Why do you string your tension that low?
Well, I think it's just the way I feel the ball. It gives me a little more speed on my serve, you have to use your hands a little bit more, so I like it at that tension.

When did you first become interested / show an interest in tennis?
I was about seven years old. My father used to play at a local club and you had to be eight to join the club. I decided I wanted to play tennis and I picked up the racket and started going. I used to play in the group sessions with my brother and that's how I got involved in tennis. I watched my father play and took a natural liking to it and I started from there.

Was that a local club in Canada?
Yes, just a regular four-court outdoor clay court club.

Most thrilling moment in sports?
There have been many moments in sports. The (John) McEnroe v (Bjorn) Borg 1980 tie-breaker when McEnroe won the forth set. It was something like 21-19 and then he lost the fifth set so that was a great moment at Wimbledon. I think the 1998 Olympics in Seoul when Ben Johnson was running with Carl Lewis and he got disqualified. Basketball, when the Chicago Bulls won their first NBA Championship with Michael Jordan. Football when Arsenal won the double in 1997-98. I am an Arsenal supporter. In Euro, 1996 when England got to the semi-finals and had a good chance to go through, that was a very exciting time in sports.

What is the biggest challenge you have overcome in tennis?
Probably the injuries I have had to go through this year. I think I am still trying to get through them to be honest. I've had surgery on my foot, I've had my back and my shoulder injured. I've had all sorts of different injuries and I'm just trying to get back to my health and trying to enjoy the game. It's difficult when you are always at the physiotherapist table.

What was your most important victory?
I have had many good victories that have brought me back. I have had quite a few ups and downs, so I think getting to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 1997 and then bringing it on to the finals of U.S. Open finally established me. In '98 I had a series of injuries right through the summer and then at the end of that year I managed to beat Pete Sampras in the final of Paris to re-establish myself. Last year, I had a season when I went backwards again so I re-established myself by winning the Grand Slam Cup. I've had about three series where I've come back from injuries and had to play really well, and I have.

What special steps do you take to mentally prepare for a big match? I try to visualize what I want to do on the court. You just work on aspects of your game that you will need to use on the day, where you want to hit your passing shots, where you want to put your returns, good first serve percentage. It's all in strategy and what you want to do out there. Everyone can hit the ball pretty well. The thing is, it's in between the ears that is most important in your game. How do you cope with defeat? I think it depends on how I've done out there. I don't enjoy it when I lose. But, if I give 100 percent and I feel like the guy has beaten me then I have no problems. If I beat myself, then I'm pretty disappointed.

What (thus far) has been the defining point in your career?
I think my roll started in the 1997 Davis Cup in the Ukraine when I had to win the deciding rubber for us to be promoted to the World Group. The summer before I had my good roll, so that was an important step forward for me by winning that deciding match.

What other sports are you interested in / good at?
Football, basketball, snooker. I'm probably best at basketball out of the three. The other two I try to play, but I'm not that good at.

How often do you get out and play a bit of hoops?
Not too often because I don't want to twist my ankle and be injured so I just shoot around but not too often.

Do you have any special training techniques?
I think I have to do a lot of stability drills and just things to balance out my body. Being a tennis player you get one-sided quite a bit. There is a lot of work to even out the sides so the muscle isn't unbalanced. Then you have to build up your cardiovascular strength so you can run all day. You also need power and strength so you need a combination of everything really.

Do you have any special rituals/habits before, duriing or after a match?
Sometimes I eat the same food, that is the only ritual I have. I tend to stick to the same meal if things are working well.

Why do you love tennis?
One man against the other man. At the end of the day, there is no one else to blame except yourself. If you lose and if you win, it's basically yourself. That's what makes tennis so exciting and appealing. It's because there is only one person who gets all the credit.

Favourites

Band: Jamiroquoi, Lenny Kravitz

CD: 5 - Lenny Kravitz

Movie (current):
I'm a big James Bond fan - They are usually my favorites even though they are just fun, adventure movies.

Movie (all time):
I liked the original James Bond film, 'Dr. No,' I think that's a great movie.

Book: John Grisham

Video Game:
I don't play them that frequently, but I have my own game system. I have a tennis game wit Actual Sport, which is quite a laugh.

What foods can you cook?
Steak and Chips, Italian, any good cooking. I can cook the basics.

Do you have a special diet?
Not really. Eat sensibly that's all that counts.

Do you eat a particular meal before matches?
I usually eat carbohydrates and pasta because that digests quickly in the stomach and you are not going to cramp. You get the blood sugar you need.

Cars (Old/New):
I have a car, a beautiful XK8 from Jaguar, which I have on a sponsorship deal. It is a lovely car. It's a soft top so I can put the roof down on a nice day. I was very fortunate, because during my wedding day they lent me a really beautiful vintage car.

Football (soccer) Club:
Arsenal. I went to the opening match of the season last year and I follow them, mostly on the TV.

What Magazines do you read?
Vanity Fair, Esquire

What are your favorite Web sites?
I'm associated with Freeserve, so I have a web site with them and I do my chats and stuff on line - it's great to be associated with them.

Outside Interests

Travel
What are your favorite non-tennis destinations?
I like the Caribbean where it is hot and I can just relax. This year I'm going to St. Anton to go skiing, which I've never done before.

Fashion (special designers/types of clothing?)
Austin Reed - they do all my suits, ties and clothes and it's really nice.

Do you have any pets (type / name / age?)
I have two cats called Henry and Arthur and they are very friendly and very therapeutic.

Hobbies (collecting, etc?)
I enjoy reading, going to the cinema, sightseeing and good restaurants.

Family Background

How many brothers / sisters?
One older brother named Bill.

What are their careers / special interests?
He played tennis with me when I was younger, but now he does different things.

What do/did your parents do?
My father worked for the railroad and my mother worked as a secretary. They were extremely supportive of me. But, as I also told myself, if I hadn't made it to the Top 50 by the time I was 21, I'd give up and study law. My father had wanted to be a professional tennis player when he was younger, but his father couldn't give him the opportunities to take it up. He went to school, got a degree and then a job working for the railroads. Hopefully, my achievements make my father very proud.

With your schedule, is it difficult to catch up with them?
It's difficult on the road because you are always travelling from week to week and now that I'm married, I want to spend time with my wife.

Personal

How would you describe your personality and character?
I just enjoy what I'm doing and going out there and always trying to do the best I possibly can. I'm like anybody else, I have my good and bad days.

Who is the most inspirational person in your life?
My wife.

How do you deal with popularity?
Well, I think in England, Tim (Henman) and I get treated very well. I think people are more than friendly, yet respect our space. They are usually just very polite to us.

Outside of a big win, what is your 'Ideal Day'?
Having a day to sleep in and just having some breakfast in bed and doing whatever I want to do that day.

Apart from the tennis - what do you like most about being a tennis player?
If you do it well it gives you a lifestyle where you can choose whatever you want to do after you are done. It gives you freedom to be your own boss. It gives many benefits.

What do you like least about being a tennis player?
Most players would say the travelling. Going from one place to the next and not being at home enough.

What do you plan to do after tennis?
Take a year off and figure out what I want to do. I'm in a fortunate position of being able to choose what I would like to do.

Weblinks:

To find out more about Greg Rusedski and for all the latest news about his progress this year, visit his profile page on the official ATP website: http://www.atptennis.com/en/players/playerprofiles/default2.asp?playersearch=Greg+Rusedski