Status: #16 seed in the U.S. Open men’s doubles with partner Rohan Bopanna of India. Has reached the semifinal round and will meet the Argentine team of Zeballos/Schwank for a spot in the finals. Has also reached the final of Mixed Doubles with partner Kveta Peschke. Winner of one career ATP doubles title (2010 South Africa w/ Bopanna).

Ht: 6-0 Wt: 180

DOB: March 17, 1980 In: Lahove, Pakistan

Tennis Inspirations: “Actually, my mother was Pakistan’s #1 for ten years. She was a national champion. My maternal grandfather was also #1 before partition. So tennis was always in my blood, my family. I was not a big fan when I was younger because in Pakistan cricket is like religion – every single kid likes cricket. I used to play cricket a lot. And we only used to see Wimbledon finals. And both times I only watched Edberg and Becker. So I grew up watching them play and when I first started traveling, I practiced a lot with Stefan Edberg in London. So I after meeting him I would definitely say he’s my idol in tennis, by far.”

First Tennis Memory: “I think the first time I played a junior tournament in th e14s, I lost 60 60 – and I remember – I think I never cried so much in my life for a tennis match. So that really motivated me and the next time I really wanted to beat that guy. And the next year I was really happy in the 14s where I actually beat him.”

Nicknames: “Everyone back home calls me Somi – my close friends and family members. My mother gave me that name.”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “Big fan of music, reading, I just joined University of Phoenix. I wouldn’t call it a hobby but I have to study now. And for the last year, when I’n back home, spend as much time with my two nephews. And I love to go out clubbing – if Rohan is in the mood, we can go out together. Watch movies. Just a normal guy who happens to play tennis.”
Last Book Read: “The Greatest Salesman In The World.”

Favorite Movies: “Gladiator. Interview With a Vampire. Last
of the Mohicans.”

Favorite TV Show: “Friends, by far.”

Musical Tastes: “Pretty much everything that makes me move. I really like hard rock, heavy metal helps me when I’m in the gym. Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Guns & Roses, Metallica was actually the first time I bought a CD – Black album. Ever since I became a really big fan of heavy metal.”

Current Car: “I’ve got two actually. I live with my parents still back home, so we have five cars. So I could just choose whatever I want. I don’t really have a particular car.”

Favorite Meal: “Gurg walay shawl. Actually, curry is the sugar cane and you actually make sweet rice from them. That’s sweet. I’m not a big fan of normal food – I have a sweet tooth. That’s my favorite dish and every time I go home my mom cooks that for me.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Caramel, by far. I can’t say no to caramel [smiles].”

Pre-Match Feeling: “(Think about) just not to mess it up. Especially if I’m playing doubles. To help my teammate as much as possible. And stay focused. And I work a lot on my breathing. Try to get a sweating going on. Listen to music. Do some sprints and some abs, get the body going. I do some prayers before the match, whether for singles or doubles. Mostly keep the same routine before every match.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “To make semifinal for the first time at U.S. Open. I’ve never done that. Last year, I think, beating Federer in doubles in Basel, was a huge moment. The first time I qualified for Wimbledon two years ago (2007).”

Most Painful Moment: “Would be, I think, my first Davis Cup, I lost to Paradorn Srichaphan. I lost with four match points to win the tie for Pakistan. It was my first Davis Cup, I was 18. I won my first singles, I won the doubles, and he was top 100 then, their #1. And I lost to him 12-10 in the fifth set. At home. From four match points. It took me a while to get over it.”

Favorite Tournaments: “Wimbledon, by far.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “Sitting right here on the left (Rohan Bopanna).”

Funniest Player Encountered: “He can be pretty funny at times (Bopanna). Recently, I would say Dustin Brown. He’s a pretty funny character.”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “I think every guy I lost to in my career [laughs]. I think everybody’s tough in my 14-year career. Everyone I’ve lost to especially are the toughest opponents by far.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “Nowadays, obviously Roger. And Nalbandian.”

Strangest Match: “The ones that I recall – I don’t like playing my friends. When I play, especially with him (Bopanna) on the courts – I played with him three or four times – and every time I stepped on the court it wasn’t a good feeling. We played in Davis Cup, at the Challenger level, and now I’m really looking forward to the Commonwealth Games in two weeks in India. I just hope I don’t play this guy over there. So every time it’s been pretty strange when we play.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Davis Cup at home in Pakistan, I was wearing the wrong shorts and there was no time. I had to change my shorts in front of all the crowd. There was a logo that was not supposed to be on my shorts – in Davis Cup you have different rules for ATP and ITF. So I would say that was the most embarrassing moment. I had to change in front of all the crowd watching.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Friendly. Loving. Everybody who wants peace. And just good to each other. Respect elders as kids. And I think those kinds of qualities definitely make you a good human being.”

For more tennis news check out Scoop’s tennis site www.tennis-prose.com

James Blake at the Davis Cup final draw in Portland, Oregon in December 2007.

Status: Former world #4 in ATP rankings. Member of 2007 U.S. Davis Cup-winning team.

Ht: 6-1 Wt: 170

DOB: December 28, 1979 In: Yonkers, NY

Childhood Heroes: “Michael Jordan impressed me with how he got ready for every game. And he had to show everyone he was the best every time he stepped on that court. In tennis I liked all the Americans like John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Pete, Andre, Jim Courier, Todd Martin. I liked Stefan Edberg too, how he carried himself on the court. My father really liked watching him too.”

Nicknames: “Junior. JB. Squirt Gun – luckily that was short-lived. On the Harvard team, most of the guys had nicknames. One guy gave most of the guys their nicknames. And my brother (Thomas) was Tommy Gun. So the first time I came up for a visit – I was 5′ 4″, a little kid – and so they called me Squirt Gun.”

Hobbies/Interests: “Play golf – I’m not that good but it’s a lot of fun. Play some basketball. Poker.”

Favorite Movies: “Braveheart, Good Will Hunting.” Musical Tastes: “R&B, rap, classic rock, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Notorious B.I.G, Tupac, Master P, Snoop Doggy Dogg, John Mayer, Brandy, R Kelly.”

Early Tennis Memory: “Hmmm, let’s see. Winning my first New England Open when I was 11, at Brown University in Rhode Island. I was really happy. At the time it seemed so important.”

Childhood Dream: “Being at the U.S. Open, Wimbledon or the French Open. Things I dreamed about. I’d go to the U.S. Open every year as a kid. One or two years I might have even snuck in! First Job: “Paperboy for the Bridgeport Post (age 10). I did it for five years. That was a lot of fun. My brother and I shared the route.”

First Car: “Hand-me-down from my brother, which was already bought used. A 1987 crimson Toyota Celica with dents all over it. The stereo barely worked. Put a sticker on it and called it The Harvard Mobile.”

Current Car: “Mercedes.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “The first time Thomas and I played doubles together was at the U.S. Open in qualies (‘97). We didn’t think we were gonna get a wildcard. So we were actually out on the first tee, ready to tee off, in Trumbull, CT. And I didn’t even think to call down to see if we got a wildcard. And we were playing with my coach and another Harvard teammate. And they said, ‘You might as well just call before we go out.’ So I call down and go back and tell them I think we might only get in nine holes because we have to be down in New York in an hour and a half. They thought I was kidding. So we have to run to the car, run home and change into our clothes. We flew down here. We ended up getting down and the match was delayed. We didn’t even think we were gonna play. We ended up playing a great match, we lost 7-6 in the third to Davide Sanguinetti and another player I forget his name. And it was a lot of fun.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “Try to get a gameplan pretty early. Before I go out to a match, I think about how I’m going to play and think about the feeling of winning it. I always want to think about that feeling. So it’s never a surprise. I don’t want to be surprised to win.”

Favorite Meal: “Just pizza.”

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Golden Grahams.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Double fudge brownie.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Was probably winning the Davis Cup. I was really proud of that because I had always dreamed of being a part of a Davis Cup team. And when you’re playing for your country it’s a really different feeling when you know it’s not just for yourself, your family or your bank account or whatever. It’s for something more important. And my first Davis Cup match was exciting for me to beat Leander Paes in 2001. Especially a couple of months after 9/11. ”

Most Painful Moment: “It might’ve been losing that match in 2001 to Lleyton Hewitt at the U.S. Open. More physically painful because I was throwing up and cramping on the court. And I really felt like that was when I was playing some good tennis and could’ve maybe gone further when no one really knew much about me at that point. And I was just breaking on to the tennis scene and it would have been nice to have that win.”

Favorite Athletes To Watch: “Americans in tennis – Sampras, Agassi, Roddick, Todd Martin – he was always kind of a favorite of mine. Randy Moss. Shaq – incredible. The Mets. Tiger Woods. Roy Jones Jr. Tyson back in the day. Just ran through people. Women’s tennis? I can’t say I follow it that much. But maybe I did like watching Steffi Graf. Seemed like a really great person and someone that was going to be nice no matter what happened. A great champion. Another great champion was Patrick Rafter. He’s a class act, someone I admire a lot. I played him three or four years ago in (3rd round at) Cincinnati (lost 7-6 (9-7), 6-2 after defeating Arnaud Clement and Julien Boutter). After the match, he was telling me, ‘You could have beaten me today. You could beat me on any given day. It’s just that maybe you didn’t believe you could.’ For him to say that to me…he didn’t need to. He could have just said he played horribly. He was worrying about playing the rest of the tournament, he had a million friends in the locker room, not like he needed one more. He was just helping out a kid that was struggling with his confidence. He really helped me a lot that day. Until then I didn’t feel that I belonged on the ATP Tour at all. After that, I started thinking, Maybe he’s right, maybe I do belong out here. Now I realize I can play with those guys. Patrick really made a difference in my career.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Was probably that same match with Lleyton, when I threw up in front of 10,000 people in Louie Armstrong (stadium). And then had my friends from college send me the links to where it was on the internet, the picture of me throwing up on the court, so [smiles]. That was probably my most embarrassing time.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “Mardy Fish is probably my best friend on the tour, he lives right around the corner from me. Then Robby (Ginepri) and Andy (Roddick) and the Bryan twins are all real good friends too.”

Funniest Players: “Mardy. He’s a riot. He keeps me laughing all the time.”

Toughest Competitor: “I’d say probably Andy Roddick is on my list of toughest competitors. Because he’s a guy that has a huge serve. And a lot of guys like that kinda take it easy if they’re holding (serve) easy. He never gives you free points. He works hard for everything. Never gives up. He’s an unbelievable competitor.”

Favorite Tournament: “U.S. Open is definitely my favorite. Being so close to home where I grew up. I’ve been a fan of this tournament since I can remember. Playing in the Pilot Pen (New Haven) is fun just because I get to stay home, it’s really exciting to have so many friends and family there too. And otherwise, foreign tournaments – I’d say the Australian Open. Because the fans are great. The people there, the beaches are nice, everything about that place is pretty fun. And we stay in a casino so that helps too [smiles].”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty. Someone who’s gonna be with you from beginning to end no matter what happens. Someone you can always count on.”

Ht: 6-2 Wt: 187

DOB: September 20, 1981 in Toledo, Spain.

Tennis Inspiration: “Stefan Edberg. Because of him, I like the way he played, behaved but I like the way he was very quiet and very gentleman on court. I also like the way he played.”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “I like cinema. I love soccer. I love to watch the games when we are at home in Madrid. When I come back to Spain, I don’t have like so much time after practice and everything during the day. So the only thing I do is go to cinema, go to soccer games or go to dinner with friends.”

Favorite Movie: “Braveheart I like a lot. This is the only one I think.”

Musical Tastes: “I like Julio Iglesias. Laura Boccini – Italian singer. And I like many music styles like disco, dance, everything.”

Early Tennis Memory: “When my father (Feliciano) went with me on the court when I was five years old, me and my brother (Victor). I don’t remember any special moment, it was just my father, brother and me. My father bought me a tennis racquet when I was five at Christmas. That’s why I play tennis now, because of him.”

Favorite Meal: “Pasta, tomato.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Haagen Dazs.”

First Job: “I don’t have.”

First Car: “2003 Porsche (black).”

Funny Tennis Memory: “I remember one — my father threw a racquet over my head when I missed a forehand from the other side of the net [laughs].”

Pre-Match Feeling: “Like a little nervous when you have to go on the court, especially in the stomach.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Greatest moment…to win the Davis Cup (2008, 2009). And to be in the quarterfinals in Wimbledon (d. Safin, Ancic in 2005).”

Most Painful Moment: “When I had a wrist injury in 2000 I think, or 1999, I don’t remember.”

Favorite Tournament: “Madrid.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “Nadal, [Fernando] Verdasco — I know him for many years. My father was his coach.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “Verdasco is very funny. [Alex] Corretja. [Marat] Safin is funny [smiles]. I think he’s funny on the court. He’s such a good player and such a good personality on the court and I think the people love him.”

Toughest Competitors: “Federer, Agassi, Nadal — I think those three.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “To play Davis Cup for the first time I think I was really nervous. (How did you do?) I played doubles (lost with Corretja), it was in the final against Australia. (Spain lost 3-1 in Melbourne in 2003).”

People Qualities Most Admired: “To be generous I think. Honest.”

Tennis Inspiration: “Watching my idols play back at Wimbledon or at the U.S. Open, wanting to maybe be like them one day. Practice hard. Maybe when I was #1 junior in the world when I was 17 years old, I hoped to maybe one day maybe equal that feat on the men’s tour, also become #1 on the world there. So I’m happy I chose tennis, put it that way.”

Ht: 6-1 Wt: 177

DOB: August 8, 1981 In: Basel, Switzerland

Childhood Heroes: “Stefan Edberg – actually my favorite of all-time. Boris Becker – first favorite when I was small. Pete Sampras.”

Nicknames: Rogie, Federer Express.

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “Sports in general, cinema, deep sea fishing, relaxing in the beach, friends, music, skiing.”

First Tennis Memory: “I remember always loving to play against the cupboards, against the doors at home. With any kind of ball…soft ball, tennis ball. My mom (Lynette) always got pissed off at me, because, Bang, bang, bang!, all day long [smiles].”

 Favorite Movies: “Good Will Hunting, Entrapment, Enemy of the State.”

Musical Tastes: “Anything on top of the charts all over the world, AC/DC, Metallica, Lenny Kravitz.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “As always, before an important match, always very nervous. It’s a good feeling. It shows I think that match is very important to me. Once I’m on the court, that’s not so much the pressure, that’s the easy part. It’s what I love to do. In the beginning of the match, you hope you just play okay. Which is, start to play, get the rhythm and everything. And after two or three games, you’re not nervous anymore.”

First Job: “Never had one. I stopped school at 16 and started playing tennis.”

Early Tennis Memory: “I was playing a friend named Marco (Chiudinelli) when I was 14. Playing in Basel. And it was like six o’clock. And this bird just goes on the net [smiles]. My friend – he didn’t see the bird – and he starts serving. And he serves…and the little bird, Boom! Right on the body. The bird fell on my side of the net. And it was on the ground, like shaking, then, Boom, dead. Feathers all over the court. He didn’t know what happened. I’m like, Stop, stop! There’s a bird on the net. And he goes, Boom, and just hits it. That was unbelievable.”

Childhood Dream: “Always had tennis in my mind. Tennis was my dream. To me, Wimbledon was always the special one. Because my heroes were Becker, Edberg and Sampras. I just hope that I always be healthy and not injured.

Greatest Sports Moment: “I think I have so many [smiles]. I think the four Grand Slams are fantastic and each has a special place for me. Australian – I became number one in the world. Wimbledon – I broke Pete’s record (by winning his 15th slam title). The U.S. Open – I won it five years in a row.  French Open (became third man in Open era to win all four grand slams). And the Olympic gold medal in doubles (2008). So I think those are the best moments of my career.”

Most Painful Moment: “One good thing about me is that I forget matches, even bad matches, very quickly. I get sad about not having played well but I don’t really get (upset). By the time I get back to the hotel, it’s completely forgotten and I’m fine.”

Is There A Secret To Your Success: “I guess not, no. Hard work and belief that I can win every match I play. I’ve come a long way. I never thought I’ll ever play so well and dominate tennis. I’m just really having a great time.”

Favorite Meal(s): “Tomatoes and mozzarella di buffala. And gnocchi and gorgonzola, sausage, cheese, salad.”

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Rice Crispies [laughs].”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Strawberry.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “I am lucky to speak three languages, and this opens many doors to making friends with other players. I reckon I have an excellent contact with many other players on the Tour. I do spend a lot of time with the other Swiss players when they are also at the tournaments.”

Toughest Opponents: “Nadal. Djokovic. Murray. Roddick. Nalbandian. Safin.”

 Favorite Athletes To Watch: “FC Basel. Zinedine Zidane. Francesco Totti. Michael Jordan. Lennox Lewis. Wladimir Klitschko. Peter Forsberg. More and more hockey. American football was not too interesting to me. Too many breaks in the action. Plus I don’t understand the rules too good.”

Favorite Tennis Players To Watch: “I just like to watch tennis. I’m flippin’ through the channels and see a match – really no matter who is playing – I just like the game very much. One player I would really like to watch is Bjorn Borg. Because I never really had the chance to see him when he was at his best. And from what I’ve seen and heard, he is a very special player and obviously a great champion.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “That they smile a lot. Friendly. Helpful. I have a motto that I like: It’s nice to be important, but it’s important to be nice. And don’t lie. I don’t like it when somebody lies. Because I never lie.”

Check out Scoop’s tennis site: www.tennis-prose.com

Dancevic on pre-match feeling: I try to stay relaxed. I try to just put the music on, think about what I gotta do on the court. © Action Images/Reuters
Frank Dancevic’s first serve has always been one of his best weapons so no one was more surprised than Dancevic himself when he stepped up to serve in the final set of tightly-contested US Open qualifying match only to find himself utterly unarmed.

Amid sweltering court conditions, a drained, dazed Dancevic stepped up to the baseline to hit his first delivery and was struck by the sight of an absent alley — his Wilson racquet.

“It was late in the third set. And I was so — I think I had heat stroke — I was so mentally just tired. I couldn’t even get my mind to think any more,” Dancevic said. “The ref called time, I got my towel ready to serve. I looked down and it was like, ‘There’s something missing here.’ So everybody was looking at me, like, ‘What’s this guy doing?’ And I walked back and just got my racquet. Kind of made it as I went to get my water. So it didn’t look real, because it was one of those really embarrassing moments, I was trying to play it off, like (no problem).”

Despite the temporary loss of his racquet, Dancevic went on to win that match. Before he first picked up a racquet, the Niagra Falls native’s stick of choice was a hockey stick. Like many Canadians, Dancevic grew up as an avid hockey player and fan, rooting for the Toronto Maple Leafs. His natural athleticism and aggression translated to the tennis court though Dancevic recalls experiencing a bit of a competitive culture shock playing the very first tournament of his life.

Tennis is a game of legs, Hall of Famer Stefan Edberg once remarked. But in his tournament debut, Dancevic unwittingly brought an opponent to his knees as playing suddenly gave way to praying.

“I was nine, playing under 10 tournament. And I was beating a guy 6-0, we were playing an eight-game pro set,” Dancevic recalls of his first tournament experience. “And he went in the corner, got on his knees and started praying. Nine-years-old, I’ll never forget that one [smiles]. The first match I ever played.”

He drove his first opponent to seek some divine intervention and Dancevic has driven himself to great lengths in posting some of his best career results recently.

In a battle of former Indianapolis finalists, Dancevic had the last word last month.

The 24-year-old Dancevic defeated two-time finalist Dmitry Tursunov 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 — his first win in four career meetings with Tursunov — to advance to the semifinals of the Indianapolis Tennis Championships two weeks ago. It was Dancevic’s second successful road trip to the home of the Indy 500.

Two years ago, Dancevic was the last direct entry into the draw and drove from his home in Niagra Falls to Indianapolis where he beat then fifth-ranked Andy Roddick before bowing to Tursunov, 6-4, 7-5.

“I drove down from Niagara to Detroit to pick up my girlfriend and I said ‘Let’s do it again!’ I got here Thursday thinking I was playing qualies, then I got the good news that I was the last direct acceptance,” Dancevic said.

An aggressive player who owns a biting one-handed backhand and aims to play all-court tennis, Dancevic beat David Nalbandian at Wimbledon last year and played through qualifying to reach the Eastbourne final in June before bowing to Tursunov.

Currently ranked No. 111, Dancevic returns to action in Washington, DC tonight where he takes on qualifier Santiago Giraldo with the winner set to face 10th-seeded Tommy Haas.

An explosive player on court, the amiable Dancevic displays a self-depracating sense of humor off court.

Tennis Week contributing writer Scoop Malinowski, who made the trip to DC for this week’s Legg Mason Tennis Classic, caught up with Dancevic for this Biofile interview.

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 175 pounds.

Born On: September 26, 1984 in Niagara Falls, Canada.

Tennis Inspiration: “Goran and Pete Sampras.”

Nicknames: “Frank The Tank. I just learned that one last year. I thought it was funny. I had a giggle with that one.”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “Golf. Love fishing in my off time. Probably my favorite thing to do when I’m not on court, I’m on a boat fishing. Pretty much it. I’m pretty low-key.”

Favorite Movies: “Good one. Probably Gladiator is up there. Aw man, that’s a tough one. Matrix. I’ll give you one more — Men of Honor.”

Favorite TV Shows: “Not a big TV fan.”

Last Book Read: “Not About The Bike.”

Musical Tastes: “More of a rock guy, U2, I like techno, dance, getting into it. You wouldn’t know any of those names.”

First Tennis Memory: “I was nine, playing under 10 tournament. And I was beating a guy 6-0, we were playing an eight-game pro set. And he went in the corner, got on his knees and started praying. Nine-years-old, I’ll never forget that one [smiles]. The first match I ever played. There’s another. I actually knocked a guy’s coffee right out of his hand one time all over his white shirt. He wasn’t too happy about that. On the sidelines. Actually hit his coffee like dead on and splattered everywhere like a bomb. I caught a forehand a little late, skid off the line, it just bee-lined right at his coffee. He didn’t have time to react, it just hit it dead on.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “I try to stay relaxed. I try to just put the music on, think about what I gotta do on the court.”

Favorite Meal: “I’d have to say a dessert — chocolate brownie, hot brownie, with vanilla ice cream on top.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Definitely peanut butter chocolate.”

First Job: “Me and my friend, we made this stand outside of a hotel and sold burgers and called them ‘Yummy Burgers.’ To the workers around there. We were both eleven years old. Made about 400 bucks over the summer.”

First Car: “Acura Integra (silver).”

Current Car: “Jeep Cherokee (blue).”

Favorite Players To Watch: “I’ve obviously admired Federer. His game is more towards what I want to lean my game’s style toward.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Oh, tough one. I would have to say the quarterfinals of the Masters Series (2007 in Montreal). Playing against Rafa — I didn’t end up winning the match, I ended up losing the match but it was just an incredible feeling. In front of my home crowd and playing that match, it was unbelievable. Even though I lost the match it was probably the most fun I ever had playing a match. Two years ago that tournament I was playing great.”

Most Painful Moment: “Was getting injured last year and being out for months. And having huge events, knowing that I could do well and could get my ranking up. But just not being able to play, not being able to do anything. Just being in bed and having to stick it out and just waiting. Not knowing how long it would be till I’m ready to play again.”

Favorite Tournaments: “Canadian Open, US Open, all the Grand Slams.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “Oh, there’s a lot. I actually knocked a guy’s coffee right out of his hand, one time, all over his white shirt. He wasn’t too happy about that. On the sidelines. Actually hit his coffee, like, dead on, and splattered everywhere, like a bomb. That was a while ago, I was like 15. I caught a forehand a little late, skid off the line, it just bee-lined right at his coffee. He didn’t have time to react. It just hit it dead on.”

Closest Tennis Friend(s): “Close with the Canadians and Yugoslavian guys. I’m pretty much friends with most of the guys on the Tour.”

Funniest Player(s) Encountered: “That’s a good one. I know a couple but I don’t want to give them their fame for this [smiles].”

Toughest Competitors: “I would say Nadal.”

Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “Walking up to the line without my racquet one time [laughter]. I think it happened at the US Open during qualies two years ago. It was late in the third set. And I was so — I think I had heat stroke — I was so mentally just tired. I couldn’t even get my mind to think any more. The ref called time, I got my towel ready to serve. I looked down and it was like, ‘There’s something missing here.’ So everybody was looking at me, like, ‘What’s this guy doing?’ And I walked back and just got my racquet. Kind of made it as I went to get my water. So it didn’t look real, because it was one of those really embarrassing moments, I was trying to play it off, like (no problem). (Did you end up winning?) I won it. Against a Czech guy Jan Vanek.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “I just love to see good people. People with a good heart. If you have a good heart, it means a lot and it takes you far in life. Where ever — on and off the court. And I like to see when players treat the fans good. Treat the ballboys and people on court with respect. I think it shows a lot from a player.”

Tennis Week contributing writer Scoop Malinowski is in Washington, DC, attending this week’s Legg Mason Tennis Classic. Scoop’s latest book Heavyweight Armageddon: The Tyson-Lewis Championship Battle was called “A smashing success,” by Hall of Famer Emanuel Steward, who called the book “one of the two best boxing books I’ve ever read.” Author Joyce Carol Oates, whose book “On Boxing” is regarded as a classic calls Scoop, “one of the hottest young journalists in pugilism.” He’s recently done Biofiles with Billie Jean King, Asafa Powell, and Olympic gold medalists Carolina Kluft, Oksana Baiul and Tirunesh Dibaba. Please visit his site www.thebiofile.com. Scoop is also a ham and egger tennis player, currently ranked No. 4 in the USTA Eastern 35s and holder of the Tennis Week singles title.

“My first memory from tennis is actually when I was in Sweden and I went to, I think it was Gothenborg and I watched Sweden play the U.S. in Davis Cup. That’s maybe my first memory from tennis,” Soderling recalls. “And it was very fun and I enjoyed it a lot. Yeah I was there. I didn’t even really remember who was playing but I enjoyed it a lot. The big arena, the big crowd, I was running around there collecting autographs. So it was really a nice memory. I think I have Edberg and Larsson (autographs) at home. And I also think I have one from Sampras as well.”

A dangerous player indoors because he can serve big and generate substantial pace off his fast, flat ground strokes, Soderling reached successive indoor finals in Rotterdam and Memphis in February beating Marcos Baghdatis, Fernando Verdasco, Andreas Seppi, Gilles Simon, Andy Roddick and Radek Stepanek along the way.

The 49th-ranked Swede owns two career tournament titles — the 2004 Lyon and 2005 Milan — and has scored wins over Nikolay Davydenko, Richard Gasquet and David Ferrer. Scoop Malinowski caught up with Soderling for this Biofile interview.

Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 180 pounds.

Born On: August 14, 1984 in Tibro, Sweden.

Tennis Inspirations: “When I was younger I liked to watch a lot of tennis, I watch a lot of matches. But I didn’t really have a hero. Of course I liked the Swedes. But I think I liked more the game.”

Hobbies/Interests: “I like to watch sports on TV. Especially I like to watch table tennis — my dad used to play. And I like the sport, it’s a fun game. Also ice hockey and soccer.”

Nicknames: “No, not that I know [smiles].”

Favorite Movies: “My favorites are Gladiator and Scarface [smiles].”

Favorite TV Shows: “No, I’m traveling a lot. I cannot watch that many TV shows. I liked to watch TV shows when I was younger back home in Sweden.”

Musical Tastes: “I like a lot of music. Almost everything. Like to listen to music, so almost everything.”

Early Tennis Memory: “My first memory from tennis is actually when I was in Sweden and I went to, I think it was Gothenborg and I watched Sweden play the U.S. in Davis Cup. That’s maybe my first memory from tennis. And it was very fun and I enjoyed it a lot. Yeah I was there. I didn’t even really remember who was playing but I enjoyed it a lot. The big arena, the big crowd, I was running around there collecting autographs. So it was really a nice memory. (Which autographs did you get?) I think I have Edberg and Larsson at home. And I also think I have one from Sampras as well.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “I’m often a little bit nervous before the match. Because I think you have to be a little bit nervous to perform your best. But I got used to it. You know, you play a lot of matches. When I was — a couple of years ago — I’d get very angry and sad after I lost the match. But now maybe one hour after match I start focusing on the next tournament. You know, that’s what you have to do.”

Favorite Meal: “I like spaghetti with meatballs.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Chocolate.”

Current Car: “BMW (silver).”

Greatest Sports Moment: “For me…first ATP title in Lyon (defeated Xavier Malisse in 2004). And when I won the Swedish championships for juniors when I was 11. That was a great feeling. I think I won the final 4 and 4. And I was very happy after that match. It was the first time I played the Swedish championships and I won it so I was very happy.”

Most Painful Moment: “It’s actually when I lost 7-6 against Fish in the final in the Stockholm Open (2003).”

Closest ATP Friends: “It’s the Swedish players. I’m a good friend with all the Swedes. We all like to hang out together and they’re all nice guys.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “Funniest…ooooh, that’s a tough one. Safin, he’s funny. He’s always relaxed, I think he has a laid back attitude and he’s not taking too seriously. He’s very funny guy.”

Toughest Competitors: “Everyone. I played Srichaphan two times and he killed me both times. Before he became injured he was a really good player.”

Funny Tennis Memory: “Don’t remember. I’m not sure.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “People that are nice. Especially in tennis, as I said about Safin. He’s not taking it too seriously. But he of course, people likes to win and practice hard but then they’re not taking it too seriously. It’s not life and death.”

Scoop Malinowski created the Biofile interview in 1992. Scoop is a Tennisweek.com contributor, noted boxing expert and an accomplished recreational tennis player who once pushed a reigning senior world champion to a tiebreak set. Please check out his site www.thebiofile.com.