Kirilenko on the way to her big victory over Sharapova in Melbourne. Photo courtesy www.10sballs.com.

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 & www.10sballs.com

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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Mark “Scoop” Malinowski’s first book “Heavyweight Armageddon: The Lewis-Tyson Championship Battle” is available at amazon.com. For more features from the world of sports, check out thebiofile.com.