Charismatic Serbian doubles player answers to questions in an exclusive interview.
How has your adventure with tennis start? How do you treat tennis now?
Well, tennis I started relatively late (11 years old), as I was more into gymnastics and athletics (track and field, javelin, long jump ) as a little kid - very dfferent then. Funny thing was that I have played my first professional tournament at the age of 16 (1992), so this season was my 20th season playing professional tennis! For many years I have "played" tennis but literally, I haven't taken it as a job until only a couple of years ago (late 2006).
This is a very expensive sport – coach, court training, balls, recovery, tickets for the all world – How do you cope whit all these expenses?
Traveling expenses are a nightmare of every new tennis professional, and not only pros, many talented junior players have had to call it quits because they didn't even get a chance to play pro level. My average yearly expenses were around US$50,000 and with no sponsors it was nearly impossible to make money for me until later in my career, also being from a non EU country playing Team Tennis in Europe doesn't pay all that well.
Do you have any sponsors, maybe support National Federation?
I was lucky that since I have turned pro I was supported by HEAD company and never really needed to pay for any of my rackets, they have been more then good to me. I have also been playing with OAKLEY clothing and sunglasses which I found (glasses) helped me a lot, saving my eyes from the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Some Russian players change their nationality for Kazakhstan, what do you think about it?
As I have said earlier, us tennis players, both women and men, are left to fight for ourselves out there, and if a country other then our native, offers us better conditions to train and appreciate our skills more, and I am sure neither of players that are playing for Kazakhstan regret making that move, then first of all I applaud the country for the vision they have, as I am sure this will promote tennis in Kazakhstan and sooner then later they might have some good players rising and utilizing their talents, which is Kazakhstan's goal in the first place?
When you are training, do you have a coach?
I have had a couple of coaches in last 10 years that made a difference in my game in all, Benjy Robins, Dennis Ralston (former top 5 player in the world 1 Wimbledon finals ('60 ) and 5 time doubles Grand slam champion ( 1 Wimbledon, 1 French, 3 US Open's ) ) , who helped my aggressive game and ultimately make me a better doubles player, and coach Dusan Janicijevic who with his vision and special aproach help me ultimately reach my best singles and doubles ranking with best career results ( 146ATP singles, 31ATP doubles ) and who directed last 5 winter pre-seasons on and off the court.
Do you have any pre-match rituals?
Rituals are so individual, and even though I don't think I am one of the most superstitious athletes or tennis players, I had a one or two of them: meals that I have on a day of my first match (if I keep winning of course) I have every single day,
I use the same clothes I have played my match (washed, by a tournament or with my own hands, depending on if I have a day off or not), used same racket (i don't break strings during a match, so I restring them after each match that I win), use the same shower in the lockeroom, sit at the same table, warm up on the same court, get up on the same side of the bed,
Nothing too much as you can tell and of course, the most important, rituals during the match are the only once that make a difference in a match (taking the same number of ball, using the towel after each point, bouncing the ball same number of times (zero), placing the racket the same way I do from the start of the tournament), organizing energy drinks and water in the same way on the bench...
Cheering from the stands to help get you better play or not? Especially in foreign tournaments.
For some reason, cheering doesn't influence me much, but if it does, I always draw good energy from people around me, if they are for me, I find it that I push myself more, and if they are against me, then I use them as a reminder that each cheer for the other guy means I have to focus more and play better to shut them down... and I have always played well in team competition for that particular reason.
What is your favorite surface? And tournament on the tour?
I can really say that I love the most 4 Grand Slams, and couldn't pick one out of the bunch as each one has a special place in my heart, and is magical in its own way...
and as I felt I was very versatile and could play on any surface, and it is only the matter of days/weeks before I could play on a high level in each of the surfaces, but I could say that maybe slow hard and faster clay suits me and my game the best.
What are your plans for the break between seasons?
As this was my 20th season, I have to evaluate where I stand and think if now is the right time to make the transition and start coaching and as we speak right now, being 35, and playing very physical tennis, and being injured more then usually in 2011 I might call it quits and help others reach their competition maximum.
What are your interests? What are you doing in your free time?
I really enjoy playing golf with my friends, and also, I love that mental aspect of tennis, sport and life in general, reading about it and trying to understand actions human being make, put in different life situations, which makes individuals, so different from one another..
Whom you don't like to play (What style of game)?
I guess I would never like playing myself and that unpredictable type of tennis, with lots of rhythm changing.
And what kind of opponents do you like to play against?
I've always loved playing steady aggressive players, as they are the most predictable, and easiest to counter attack.
Do you change a profile game style depending on the various surfaces?
I am very lucky that I am able to play either form the baseline or an attacking game, which does help me being able to vary and adapt to different surfaces.
Doubles - How you treat doubles?
As I have had my best results in the past 4 seasons in doubles rather then singles, I have really put more effort and focus into doubles competition and tournament schedule.
Your best friend on the tennis tour?
I couldn't pick one particular guy, but my countrymen and former Davis Cup teammates (I haven't played since 2005), Zimonjic, Troicki, Bozoljac, Tipsarevic, and of course Djokovic as we spend the most time on and of the court together ( cheering for one another and playing pool and golf ), but many other guys I find fond of from all over the world, as after all, we are all one big tennis family.
In the last two years you played in professional tournaments very rarely. What's the reason?
I think I have answered this question earlier, but I can just say that as I have been playing very physical tennis throughout the years, it made a toll on my body and I have been hurt more then in a previous years.
What are you going to do after your career?
Coaching on Tour will be natural progression of my career I think, and helping and advising comes naturally to me..
For the end – your best side and you weakness side on court?
As for most of us tennis players, my biggest weakness is myself, and the inconsistency in my game that made my ranking suffer throughout the year, and same me, and the versatility in changing my game and rhythm and being able to adapt to any condition.
TomekREAD MORE ON TENNIS ALTERNATIVEInterview with Dusan Vemic 2011
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