Interview with a Finnish tennis player Juho Paukku.
How has your adventure with tennis started? How do you treat tennis now?
I started tennis when I was 5 years old with my dad and later on I went to play on my local club once a week, then when years rolled on I started to play more and more. I treat tennis as my job but also as my hobby, which is great. I can do what I love for living.
This is a very expensive sport – coach, court training, balls, recovery, ticket for the whole world – How do you cope whit all these expenses? Do you have any sponsors, maybe support of the National Federation?
You are absolutely right about that tennis is expensive sport. All costs, travelling, accomondation, food and everything else has to be paid by yourself. I've been quite lucky with with my career to have sponsors to keep up with all year playing. I also play some league matches in Europe and prize money from tournaments goes back to tennis outgoings. Unfortunately tennis is pretty small sport in Finland so federation cannot help that much, but also because tennis is small here and I'm number 5 in Finland I have better chance to get some sponsors then many players in big tennis countires.
Some Russian players change their nationality for Kazakhstan, what do you think about it?
Well this is a good question, On one hand I understand those players because lot of them are playing in very good level but still have no chance to get in their origin country Davis Cup team. So it is basically their chance to get in to Davis Cup, which is really nice competition and good for them. On the other hand it's not great if one country with lot of money can buy players and success without real work behind.
When you train, do you have a coach?
At the moment I don't have everyday coach but I keep close contact with my former coaches and I also sometimes go to train academies.
Do you have any pre-match rituals?
Yes I do. I always check that rackets and all the other equipment is ok, then I go through things that might happen in match on my mind. Then around one hour before the match I go to do warm up hitting and shower after that. Then I just relax before match and listen some music and do little warm up right before the match.
Does cheering from the stands help you get the better play or not? Especially in foreign tournaments.
Actually no, I try to focus on the matches so much that all the things outside the court are irrelative.
What is your favorite surface ?
My favorite surface is ragular Hard court, like Plexipave or Rebound Ace.
What are your interests? What are you doing in your free time?
Well I like to follow almost all other sports too. In free time I also try to see my friends and enjoy life over all.
What are your favourite tournaments?
I don't actually have one favorite tournament, but usually in the Middle-Europe tournaments are pretty well organised and player get the feeling that he's respected and that is important too.
Your the best friend on the tennis tour?
Same as last answer I don't one best friend on tennis tour, I have lot of good friends and I very privileged to have friends all over the world.
KubaREAD MORE ON TENNIS ALTERNATIVEInterview with Juho Paukku 2012
Like us on Facebook!CLICK HERE FOR LIVESCORES
