– Olga, tell us about your tennis school? How old is your project?
– This tennis school was opened in 2020, when my son was born. She decided to name the school in his honor, namely “GR – Junior”.
– How many children do you have? At what age are children brought to training?
– At the moment, about 100 people are training in our school. From the age of 3-4, it is already possible to bring them to classes.
– Are you already training your son?
– Of course! I am already sharing my first skills with him!
– Maybe you watched the movie “King Richard” with Will Smith, where he plays the father of the Williams sisters?
– Yes, I watched it, but I don’t remember the details of the film, to be honest. I looked at it a long time ago.
– And there is also the famous film “Wimbledon”. Were they inspired?
– I also watched this film. But I will say this: tennis is enough in my life, so I like to watch something else.
– One of the videos in your Instagram stories shows that your son is already training on the court. Do you want him to become a tennis player too?
– Yes, he really started trying to play on the court. If he wants to become a tennis player, I won’t mind (he smiles). But he will choose himself.
– Can you single out the main match in your career, which you consider the most important for you?
– This is a match as part of the qualification for the US Open–2017. I was then, I think, the sixth racket of Ukraine and I had a good form. But, alas, I lost in the match of the first qualifying round of the US Open to the American Alexandra Kyik. She won the first game fairly confidently with a score of 6:1. In the second set, I answered her in the same way, winning 6:2. In the third game, she took the upper hand with a score of 6:4.
– What is it like to play at the US Open?
– There is a very cool atmosphere! Wonderful emotions remained with me from the tournament in New York.
– The victory was really close. If we are talking about your serious rivals, then the Italian Martyna Trevisan reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros-2022 relatively recently. It’s nice that in 2017, in the final of the tournament in Warsaw, you were close to beating her. Still, they lost 2:6, 4:6. There were chances.
– Yes, the fight with Martyna was good. What to say? Yes, well done to her for reaching such a level and making it to the semifinals of Roland Garros (smiles). It’s nice to have the experience of playing with her.
– You played in the finals in Warsaw two years in a row in 2017 and 2018 (defeat by Trevisan and victory over Argentine Victoria Bosio). You can say that the capital of Poland is something of a fart city for you. Two finals are not cool.
– In fact, I managed to reach the finals of tournaments in Poland twice. I can say that I loved playing in Warsaw. Maybe that’s why it turned out to be successful!
– Remember that period in March 2017, when you reached the finals for the first time in two years. It was in Heraklion, Greece, where you beat Czech Miriam Kolodieva with a convincing score of 2:0 (6:3, 6:2). Where does a tennis player find the strength and inspiration to reach a high level and again reach the final and even win it? How did you prepare and adjust to achieve this?
– Yes, since 2015 I have not been able to make it to the final and in 2017 I managed to do it. First of all, discipline and hard work pay off for success!
– What music do you listen to before training, before matches? What inspires and sets you up?
– Personally, I like rap and techno. Such genres of music give me inspiration.
– What artist’s songs do you like the most?
– I like the hits of the American rapper Pop Smoke.
– Will you try to read the rap yourself? Or do you sing karaoke with friends?
– I can read it. And I can also sing in karaoke (laughs).
– What kind of books do you like to watch or watch movies?
– Regarding literature, this is the famous Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho. And if he talks about films, then these are dramas and melodramas.
– Who are your favorite actors and actresses?
– I like the acting of the American Angelina Jolie and the British Jason Statham.
– You were in a relationship with Gerson Rodriguez. Were you interested in football before meeting him?
– Before meeting him, I did not watch football at all, it was not interesting to me. But I had friends who were football players.
– Do you think Yannick Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will be able to adequately replace Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic?
– These guys show a great level of tennis. They already have first victories in Grand Slam tournaments. I think yes. They can do it!
– Which tennis players did you like as a child? Who did you want to be like?
– This is the American Serena Williams and the Spaniard Rafael Nadal. Their game has always been an example for me.
– By the way, you and your sister Elizaveta played quite successfully in pairs. Are you training together or playing?
– Yes, we played quite successfully in pairs. At the moment, my sister lives in America, and I live in Ukraine.
– Did your parents encourage you and your sister to play tennis? Very often this is exactly what happens.
– Yes, that’s right. My parents and my sister brought me to the wonderful world of tennis from our childhood!
– What advice would you give to young tennis players? What is important in training, games and progress?
– Many components are actually important in order to achieve success in tennis. But I will say this: first of all, in my opinion, you need to find a good coach.
– Who would you without hesitation take an autograph or take a photo from the world of tennis if you meet somewhere?
– I already have photos with my idols (smiles).
– You have 252 thousand followers on Instagram. Which subscribers please you the most?
– I love all my subscribers who follow me. But most of all, I like those that carry positivity in themselves!
– Favorite word in English that you use on Instagram on your page?
– Vibes.
– You have a wonderful shape! You are clearly one of the most beautiful tennis players in the world! How do you maintain your form? How much do you train and how do you ask?
– Thank you for the compliments. I go to the gym, play tennis, ask the right questions and take care of myself. Here are my secrets of success!
– The question is now one of the top topics in general for people who take care of themselves. What do you exclude from the diet, and what do you use more often?
– I don’t eat bread, almost too much sweets, and I don’t drink soda. I usually eat eggs, cottage cheese, porridge, meat, salads. I rarely eat fish. On weekends, if I go to a restaurant, I can afford to eat what I like (he smiles).
– What is your favorite dish in general?
– Derunas.
– Do you prepare them yourself? And how do you like it with sour cream?
– I can myself, or I can order in a restaurant (she smiles). Derunas must be eaten with sour cream or kefir.
– How and where do you like to spend your free time?
– I like to be together with my family and friends.
– What is your favorite city in Ukraine?
– Kyiv.
– And what, by the way, do you have? with a favorite city for recreation?
– Miami! And Spain!
– Do you often visit Miami and Spain?
– I spent my entire childhood in America (smiles). And I fly to Spain every hour.
– How did you end up in the USA?
– She flew to the tennis academy, which at that time was one of the best in the world.
– Do you know English well?
– I speak English fluently.
– What is your favorite game after tennis?
– Table tennis. I had a table tennis table at home, so I always played it well since childhood.
– Maybe you will reveal the secret of your spectacular tattoo in the form of a kiss on the chest?
– Gerson and I have the same tattoo, just in different places (smiles).
– By the way, is the son watching the current games of Gerson?
– The son follows Gerson’s game if he wants to.
– Argentinean Juan Martín Del Potro once said that if he had not become a tennis player, he would have been an architect. Who would you become if it were tennis?
– I loved to sing. Maybe she would become a singer.
– Is your horse forehand or backhand?
– In my case, it’s a backhand.
– How do you feel about the serve-and-volley style? Do you like to use your ego?
– Yes, I like to play like that.
– Who impresses you more among the tennis players: such a bright character Kiryos, who dares? Or let’s allow a responsible and restrained Sinner in something? And maybe emotional and reliable Zverev?
– Very interesting question. You need to think. Probably, Zverev!
– Have you often used shortened ones?
– Yes, I often did them.
– Are aces your trick? Can you do them?
– Here’s how it goes.
– Favorite racket company? What do you like to play?
– I had a contract with Wilson.
– Roland Garros is associated with the color orange, Wimbledon – with green, and the US Open and Australian Open – with blue. What is your favorite color?
– Blue!
– When you score in tennis matches, what phrase do you shout “Come on!”, “Vamos!” Or maybe something else?
– I love the phrase “Let’s go!”
– Name your list of favorite world football players?
– These are Neymar, David Beckham, Lautaro Martinez and Alessio Romagnola.
Dmitry KOTKOV
Source: sport.ua