Ht: 5-11 Wt: 141

DOB: October 15th, 1981 In: Moscow, Russia.

Tennis Inspiration: “My mom was the person that I admire all my life. (Who was your favorite tennis player as a kid?) Martina Hingis, because she played smartly, like playing chess on the court.”

Hobbies/Interests: “I’m very sport person. I like to do a lot of different sports, like ski, snow boarding— because we have a very nice off-season in the winter that I spend in Moscow. Or I go somewhere in the mountains. But I’m busy pretty much with my tennis life [laughs].”

Favorite Movies: “You probably don’t know this one — it’s Russian movie — Moscow Doesn’t Believe In Tears.”

Musical Tastes: “My favorite is Shakira.”

Early Tennis Memory: “When I started to play I couldn’t imagine that one day I’m going to be part of this world. I was watching on TV, but I couldn’t believe or couldn’t think about that I’m gonna be one day playing Wimbledon or French Open. I was watching on a TV and it was like another world for me. I remember I was watching a lot of finals between Monica Seles and Steffi Graf. That was the very exciting memory.”

Favorite Meal: “I like crabs and black caviar.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “It’s very different. But pretty much you want to feel kinda little scary, you want to feel worry before the match. That makes you feel like you’re going to be ready to play. But also you feel a little angry before I go on the court. Because it’s difficult to play by smiling and by being nice person on the court [smiles].”

First Job: “Oh, that’s the only one I have [laughs]. Be a tennis player.”

First Car: “X5 BMW. (Color?) Black.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “I would say Olympic gold medal.”

Most Painful Moment: “Never had one [laughs].”

Closest Tennis Friends: “I have a lot of good friends here, especially Russian players. Because I have so many memories together by playing junior competition.”

Funniest Players: “I don’t know. There are so many of them…Svetlana Kuznetsova.”

Toughest Competitors: “I would have to say Patty Schnyder. (Why?) She has a…she plays very different compared to other players. She has a great feeling. She’s lefty. And it’s not easy to play against her.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “I would say Andre Agassi and Serena Williams.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “I had a broken shoe. I break playing in the Olympic Games. And I didn’t have another pair to replace it. And I was asking someone from the crowd to give me another pair. That was such a funny moment [laughs]. And I still won this match. (Against who?) Barbara Schett. (Did they give you the extra shoe?) Yeah, actually (former Russian pro) Natasha Zvereva gave it to me. She was watching and her shoe was I think two or three sizes bigger than mine.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “I can’t remember. I never had [laughs].”

Favorite Tournament(s): “For me it’s the Kremlin Cup — my hometown tournament.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Kindness.”

Status: WTA #4. 2008 Olympic bronze medalist. 2010 Wimbledon and U.S. Open finalist.

DOB: September 7, 1984 In: Moscow, Russia

First Tennis Memory: “Playing a tournament in England. I was age of six and it was my first tournament. (How did you do?) I don’t even remember. I think I won my age-group, actually. And I think it was the first time I went out of Russia, actually. Very interesting to me. It was sort of an exchange between club in England and club in Russia. First, England kids came to Russia. I think coach from my club knew coach in England. Also, Olga Morozova worked in England, so they got in touch and did an exchange.”

Tennis Inspirations: “You mean, who inspired me? The person? Yevgeny Kafelnikov, he was the first Russian to do so well and I used to love watching him. I was looking for Hingis as well. I just like the way she was playing.”

Hobbies/Interests: “I like reading, traveling, listening to music — something without sports. But I also like to play volleyball, like beach volleyball. Watch Russian movies [smiles], because I don’t get the chance to when I’m home.”

Favorite Movies: “Mostly Russians. I don’t think you’ve heard about them [smiles].”

Musical Tastes: “Actually any kind of music, I like different. I listen to music because I miss home. But I can listen to classical music, I can listen to R&B, rap and just pop music like Roxette and Linkin Park.”

Last Book Read: “Actually, studying. I’m at the diplomatic academy at home so I have to read a lot of books from my school. But the one that I love – War & Peace.”

First Job:”Tennis [laughs].”

First Car: “VW Polo (white).”

Current Car: “BMW X3.”

Early Tennis Memory: “I started playing in the club in Moscow. I remember there was lots of kids in my group, about 30. And we all had to play on the one court, but it was fun [smiles].”

Favorite Meal: “Russian soup, borscht [smiles].”

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Frosted Flakes [laughs].”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Strawberry.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “Usually I’m trying to talk to my coach and not really thinking about something. Just thinking about I have to go on court and try my best and do something, everything I can to win the match.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Few of them. One of the best ones – Olympics is probably the great experience. Something unbelievable, amazing for me to get the bronze medal. It was great. Also, making Wimbledon and U.S. Open final and winning Indian Wells. It’s a very big win. It’s also one of the greatest moments as well.”

Most Painful Moment: “Hmm, there are many of them. There are many, many probably painful moments. But one of them was literally painful – when I sprained my ankle on the court in Charleston last year. It was a bad memory and sometimes it’s still in my memory and it doesn’t bring good feelings.”

Strangest Match: “Maybe losing to Myskina when I had nine match points [smiles], in San Diego (2004).”

Funny Tennis Memory: “There were a few of them. I think I was trying to reach a ball in Amelia Island and I jumped over and there was a scoreboard and the whole scoreboard and everything – down. And I was laying in there [smiles]. And I think I won that match, against Amanda Coetzer. It was like years back. Also, it makes me laugh sometimes when I watch myself on TV [laughs]. When I’m talking to myself on court. ”

Which Match Did You Feel At Your Very Best: “Maybe winning the match against Venus at French Open. And I think maybe the match in Charleston the year before I played against Elena Dementieva and Jelena Jankovic in a couple of matches, I thought they were very good.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “I think the younger players – Elena Vesnina, Victoria Azarenka. I’ve played juniors with Kuznetsova, Myskina. And Likhovtseva.”

Funniest Players: “I think all of them. They have pretty good sense of humor. (ATP?) Funny ones – I’m thinking Safin is funny for sure. Monfils is funny, dancing, everything he does is a bit funny, the way he walks.”

Toughest Competitors: “It’s tough question. But I didn’t like to play against Smashnova, because I always play four hours against her [laughs]. So I think she is, for me.”

Favorite Vacation Spot: “Home. Moscow.”

Childhood Dream: “Well, of course, I wanted to become a tennis player. And I just always really like to get into top 10 I think.”

Favorite Tournament: “Kremlin Cup.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “On the men’s side, Federer and Safin, I like watching Marat play is fun. Fantastic. Also Rafael Nadal. I like to watch Andy Roddick. Every time he serves, I just check the speed of the serve [laughs]. And Agassi. I think Rios was another player I liked to watch. I watched him play in Washington and I think he was a great player to watch, for me. I think he was like an actor on the court. And I love it because he was doing his show. Everybody knows it’s tough to play in tennis, especially when it’s 100 degrees. And he was like, performing as an actor. You can always see his emotions. He wasn’t like just standing there, doing his job. You could see how he feels. On the women’s side, I don’t watch that many, except my opponents. It’s easier to enjoy the men’s matches.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Probably U.S. Open few years ago when I played Elena Dementieva. I got so upset on the court [laughs]. Just so mad and upset and I broke my racquet. But that happens.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “I like to see…it’s tough question. When the people saying the truth. And I think straight people.”

DOB: January 9, 1975 In: Moscow, Russia

Hobbies/Interests: “I play football and hockey.”

Favorite Movie: “There’s a Russian movie called Autumn Marathon – great movie.

Favorite TV Show: “Simpsons.”

Musical Tastes: “Radiohead.”

First Job: “Hmm, I can’t remember…I guess I was a camp counselor for kids in Boston.”

First Car: “An ‘86 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera. (Color?) Purple [smiles].”

Favorite Meal: “Borscht.”

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “I never, I don’t eat cereal.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Chocolate chip.”

Early Career Memory: “I reviewed Ken Kalfus’s PS 239 – it was a book of stories – and I knew him a little bit and he wrote me an e-mail and he said, That was a real nice review and my publishers are very happy too. And I was like, I think I was too nice. And he’s like, No, you called one of my stories gratuitous… You asshole [laughs]!”

Greatest Career Moment: “I wrote a review of Martin Amis for The Nation. And then I saw Vivian Gornick at a party. And she said: “You wrote that review of Martin Amis? I loved that.” And she put her hand on my arm.”

Most Painful Moment: “Uuhh. I wrote a review about (VS) Naipaul, who won the Nobel Prize a couple of years ago. But the new book wasn’t very good. And I said it wasn’t very good. And somebody e-mailed and I mixed up – one guy’s name was Peter and the other guy’s name was Richard. And I mixed up the names and my editor’s like, I think we need to run a correction [smiles]. Because you mixed up the names.”

Favorite Vacation Spot: “Cape Cod.”

Favorite Writers: “Oh. Don Delillo. Gogel. I love Gogel. And Michel Houellebecq, the Frenchman.”

Childhood Dream: “I wanted to be Dostoevsky. Yeah.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “I guess, you live in New York, the wrong time and people are sometimes lying to you, like, I love what you wrote, your thing that you wrote, so great. So, honesty. Honesty because people are full of shit [laughs].”

Education: Harvard (History and Literature), MFA Syracuse.

Ht: 5-8  Wt: 127

DOB: January 25, 1987  In: Moscow, Russia

First Tennis Memory:  “When I came to the club when I was seven-years-old and I came to one of the bigger clubs in Moscow – Dynamo. It was my first time. My father, he brought me there. We were expecting the coach would group me, like, if she likes me, she will take me – or I go home. And then when I came there I didn’t play tennis at all. I mean, I could hit some balls but it was a little bit strange technique. And coaches gave me some exercises to run, and this kind of stuff. And she said, Okay, I’m gonna take her. And everybody was surprised. And also, all the girls who were in the club, who were my age, already played for one year and everybody was laughing about me. Like, Why did you come here? Because you can’t play tennis. I was like, We will see later [laughs].”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities:  “Well, when I’m back at Moscow, I like to go to theater and be with friends. Also, maybe playing some golf as well. Reading, music and just to do some different stuff, like snowboarding, for example. I like to do something different.”

Nickname:  “Makiri.”

Tennis Inspirations:  “I like to play tennis since I was small and nobody push me. And I like to win the match because the feeling, especially when you beat the top players and when you win the tournament. It’s a feeling you couldn’t compare with others [smiles]. It’s great. I want to practice more and more and to be a better and better player.”

Favorite Movie:  “I like Butterfly Effect.”

Last Book Read:  “Twilight, the four books. I’m on the fourth one.”

Musical Tastes:  “Difficult to say. Like, I don’t like the one singer, I like many different songs. And last time I’m listening to Scorpions, I like those songs.”

Current Car:  “I don’t drive. I have a license but I’m not driving yet [smiles]. Dangerous in Moscow to drive [laughs]. Because of traffic, crazy drivers.”

Favorite Meal:  “Russian food.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:  “Vanilla with walnuts.”

Pre-Match Feeling:  “Different things. Sometimes you’re completely not nervous. You have nerves sometimes. But I prefer to have some nerves, because you concentrate more on the game and you’re there from the first point.”

Greatest Sports Moment:  “Yeah I won China Open, first WTA title (d. Groenfeld 63 64 in 2005). And also the junior U.S. Open (2002) when I was under 18, when I was 15 years.”

Most Painful Moment:  “Yeah, losing in the first match in the Grand Slams. It’s always sad when you lose in the first round.”

Closest Tennis Friends:  “Maybe now it’s Sorana Cirstea and Marta Domochowska.”

Funniest Players Encountered:  “Women – nobody funny [laughs].”

Toughest Competitors:  “I don’t like to play with lefties.”

Funny Tennis Memory:  “Maybe in the moment when you’re going for a dropshot, you make it and then you go in the net [laughs]. And you’re losing the point. (When did it happen?) A few times in my career, I couldn’t stop before the net. I’m like, hanging.”

Favorite Players To Watch:  “Everybody [laughs].”

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve.

HT: 6-foot-2 WT: 210 pounds

DOB: June 19, 1982 In: Moscow, Russia

Hockey Inspirations: “I didn’t have one guy. I like a lot of great players – like Alexander Yakushev, Valeri Kharlamov. But I really didn’t have one guy who I really wanted to be like. I always want to be myself.”

Nicknames: “Fro. Froly.”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “I like to read. I like chess pretty good, but it’s hard to find a partner here.”

Musical Tastes: “Rock. Aerosmith, Guns and Roses.”

First Hockey Memory: “When I won Russian championship as a kid for the first time (age 10).”

Favorite Meal: “So many. I can eat everything. I like good food. Like, I really like sushi – good sushi. Good steak. Italian. Whatever, it should be nice.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”

Pre-Game Feeling: “I try to not think about the game. Try to relax. Have some rest. Get a good nap. Get ready for 7:30.”

First Job: “Hockey.”

First Car: “Blue Lada.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “I should say when we won the World Junior Championship. That was probably the greatest one (defeated Canada in 2001).”

Most Painful Moment: “Probably last five years when we didn’t make the playoffs.”

Favorite Uniforms: “L.A. Kings. I like this crown.”

Worst Injury: “I got like a broken finger and separated shoulder.”

Favorite Arena To Play: “Staples. I like it. Staples.”

Closest NHL Friend: “Oleg Tverdovsky.”

Funniest Player(s) Encountered: “Should I say (Sean) Avery? Funniest player, good sense of humor – yeah, I give it to him. Avery. (Why?) He’s just yappin’ all the time, talking and making some jokes.”

Toughest Competitors: “Like who’s working really hard? I would say Mattias Norstrom. I know him probably better than other players because I play with him for four years. I see every day his work ethic and how hard he worked. How he practices every day, every morning and how he battles every night. Incredible. Blocking shots, trying to hit everything. So it’s him.”

Funny Hockey Memory: “When Jeremy Roenick starts to dance, when J-Ro was dancing on the ice during the game. It was kind of fun.”

Last Vacation: “Las Vegas.”

Favorite Athletes To Watch: “I like to watch Detroit play because they are very good. And I would say Rafael Nadal – tennis player right now. (Why?) He’s really young, strong kid and very talented. It’s really fun to watch how he plays. (Female?) (Maria) Sharapova.”

Personality Qualities Most Admired: “I don’t know. Let me think…I would say for someone to be honest.”

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