Monday, October 9th... Now I constantly live in Monte Carlo, but Moscow is my hometown, and this is without a doubt the most incredible and modern metropolis in the world. Every time I get home, I have fun with my friends. A hectic rest does not always have a positive effect on my sports career. So now, when I finally started to win, I will try to focus on work. Indeed, in order to return to the number of the best tennis players again, I will have to sacrifice many. But, as soon as the season ends, in December, I will more than make up for lost time. Believe me.
Waking up, he made coffee and had breakfast with cereal. Yes, that's so modest, because in the morning I have neither the strength nor the time to cook something. This is the sad part of a bachelor’s life, when nobody prepares food for you, doesn’t wash the dishes and doesn’t wash. Therefore, most often I try to eat not at home. But my parents who live nearby help me with cleaning and washing.
On Saturday, I played a little with Nikolai Davydenko, but after breaking two rackets in 45 minutes, I was afraid that there wouldn’t be any inventory left for the tournament itself, and I decided to finish it. Then I met friends and we had lunch at one of the restaurants. And in the evening I was drawn to a nightclub, I wanted to drink a little ... But I overpowered myself and returned home like a good boy. I was very proud of myself.
On Sunday, as modestly as the day before, he had breakfast at home, and a little later he remembered the taste of pancakes with condensed milk in the cafe of the Olimpiysky sports complex. I ate at least ten at a time, because I was sure that after my training, there would be nothing left. For about an hour, we played with Teymuraz Gabashvili. A cool guy, this Teimuraz, crazy and funny in a good way. Such people are rare in life. Yes, I almost forgot. This time I did not break a single racket. I grow not by the day, but by the hour.
Last night I managed to meet my childhood friend Yuri Schukin, who, unfortunately, could not qualify for the Kremlin Cup. We captured Denis Golovanov with his pregnant wife, another ex-tennis player Emmin Agayev, and went to an Uzbek restaurant. I will say right away that the place was not very lucky. We sat next to two very high-profile companies - one from Holland, the other from Portugal. They drank so much !!! I have never seen so many traffic jams and trays on a table in a restaurant. Then, when the Uzbek dancers came, they began to shout even louder, probably because their wives were not next to these guys. When the dancers finished the performance, the guys demanded that they be returned to the stage, and the restaurant owners, fearing that this international group would not blow everything around, were forced to obey. Then they began to discuss which country — Portugal or Holland — was the best, and one approached us to offer a Dutch cigar. I never heard of Dutch cigars and therefore decided not to try. And then I imagine the eyes of the guardians of doping control when I tell them that I didn’t take anything like this, except that I dragged on a Dutch cigar a couple of times ...
Tuesday October 10thCaribbean islands, 30 degrees of heat, people lie on the beach and drink cocktails ... These thoughts were the first when I woke up today. Because real autumn came to Moscow, and the morning turned out to be in its best traditions: gray and rainy. Woke up somewhere at 11:30. This is the usual hour of my rise, it happens later. Still, I have a good job, since I can get up when I want.
This time I decided to have breakfast at home and in the company of my manager Allon went to a cafe. We drank coffee and talked about all kinds of nonsense, however, as always. What I like cloudy weather for is that you can hide in some nice warm cafe and look out the window at the rain and the endless stream of people. I’m pretty sure that 90% of these people don’t know where they really go and why. And so I don’t understand how this country can even exist when there are so many people on the streets at work noon. It looks like Italy, the most amazing country after Russia. There, too, people seem to never work. They either eat or style hairstyles. But, in my opinion, the most talented people should not work at all, and the Italians are the most talented people on earth. After us Russians, of course.
Having breakfast, he showed Allon my Moscow apartment, the repair in which, probably, will never end. Most likely, only my grandchildren will see it fully habitable. Then we went to the "Olympic" and were in place about two hours before training. I drank a couple more cups of coffee with my parents and sister Dinara, and my mother told me the latest family news. At such moments, I feel like Tony Soprano, and I will not hide, I really like it.
Unfortunately, Dinara lost here in the first round, and after her unsuccessful match ended, I decided to cheer up a bit and chat with friends. He played a joke on the Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, who comes to every tournament with his family and therefore cannot pay attention to other women. Then he went to the locker room to prepare for his first match in the solo part of the tournament with the Frenchman Nicolas Mahut. Kirilenko and Schiavone played in front of us, and as soon as they finished the first set, he began to stretch his legs a little, and Sasha Volkov infected me with paranoia (get together, you will have a crucial match, you have to show everything you can, and other nonsense). Of course, I listened carefully so that he felt useful and believed in me.
The match Kirilenko - Schiavone was delayed, and I sat in the locker room for another two hours. There were several very young tennis players, and I chatted with them about everything. The result of this conversation: I was again convinced that in fact I am no more than 14 years old. At least I have the same interests and desires as guys of this age.
When they finally called me to the court, I felt that my arms and legs began to shake. And this is actually a good sign. All players say that a great excitement before the match is a sign of willingness to show the best game.
The first game at the Kremlin Cup did not become very difficult for me. Mahut made too many mistakes in the first set, and I easily won him - 6: 3. In the middle of the second, more complex, I threw the phrase under my feet: “Mahut, play as before. More mistakes. " And he seemed to hear and obey.
Everyone was happy about my victory and going to the second round. Everyone wished me good luck in the next round, and at a press conference I told a couple of stupid jokes and felt like a clown ...
Wednesday, October 11The second day in autumn Moscow passed, as in paradise. No bad thoughts, no stress, no problem. Only positive emotions.
Yesterday, at about one in the morning, my father called and asked one of my cars to take my grandfather to the doctor in the morning. Since I am a good son, I told him to come for the keys in the morning. And when he arrived, he handed over a gift for mom - a bag of dirty things that need to be washed. There is no greater happiness for parents than helping children in any way, even if it is just washing or cleaning. After all, while you are young, the only thing you are interested in is having fun with friends, and not washing, cleaning or washing dishes. Any age has its advantages and disadvantages, and the main thing in life is to be able to enjoy both.
After father took the car, went to lunch with Allan, and then it was time for training. So, nothing special, the usual routine of a free day: no stress, no struggle. After classes on the court, I went to the gym, took a shower and had lunch. The rest of the day is free. I am going to several meetings, and in the evening I will see friends. But not for long, because it's time to think about the next match. I wish you all good night, pleasant dreams and no nightmares. If you are not going to spend the night alone, let the person next to you sincerely love you and your feelings will be mutual ...
Translation by Andrey IVANTSOV