1st attraction to tennis
well, in Australia, tennis is sort of considered as a very stylish sport--or should I say game, especially for those with English origion. I didnt grow up with watching tennis and none in the family has ever liked it, instead I have got a ''football is everything'' Dad, so i grew up in a way that football is ''number one'' sport in life.
Back USSR time, Russian sports is unbeaten, my mother would be so pround when ever she talks about Russian sports (but not tennis then), we been watching Alexander Popov swimming and Dmitri Sautin Diving and then i would proundly told my friends that I am kind of Russian (how russian I am? I dont know, well i drink Vodka...but most my Russian relatives would call me ''Bloody Aussie'' as I have been OZ for too long)
It is such a magical chnace in the year 1998, which football world cup is on show, since Australia wasnt on the stage, the live coverage is really poor here....

I was bored and went to my English born friend Alice's place, she suggested me to watch tennis...
Tennis? are you crazy Alice? would i waste my time to chase a little grassy colored ball? i questioned.,,,
well, just have a try, you might addict to that one day.....
GOD>>>>.......
It was 23rd Ausgust, 1999--according to my memeory, (correct me if i were wrong), Hard court, at Boston MA, USA final, a then--unknown guy (Marat) was playing with world ranking number 9 Rusedski, Greg OF GBR. woooooo, he looks great! Alice shouted
who? Greg? --you are blind Alice---I shouted back!
No no no! That young guy with curly hair........well,,,, he was the winner LOL YEAH
woooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is great !!!!!!! We check out his name-----MARAT SAFIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Safin, Safin????? He looks a bit Russian, i said to Alice...... '' Or maybe he is, but his last name is a bit short!!" Alice questioned as she thinks all the Russian people has long surnames ending with ''ski'', '' ov', ''nova'', ''ko'' or '' chuk'', ''chinko'' sth like that! To her Alexander Popov is the only Russian on earth...
''Does he has blue eyes?'' Alice's sister Daisy asked.... as if all Russian men have blue eyes.....well, my brother has green eyes, he still calls himself Russian.....
''no, well, Safin would be a Tatar surname'' (NOTE to many westerners ''Tatar'' is an insult, but they never know that Tatar in Russian means a group of living people and a ethnic group)..... i quickly use the knowlege that my Kazan (A russian city, states of Tatarstan) born grandpa gives me.....
''whats a Tatar? you dont insult a handsome good-looking player?'' Alice is not happy.....
'' look on the net mate..........'' i told her back....
we tried to search his name on internet, but there is very few output as he wasnt that famous then.....well, at least Alice knows what is Tatar now...... if she wants a ''sort of Russian friend'' like me, she better understands our culture ( is that really my culture? i dont know)
A week later, i found a sport magzine in a local shop---MARAT SAFIN--wooo, that's the man! he is Russian!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At age 17, i certainly has the sense of judgment about guys--well, i am a chick, arent I????? Marat is soooooooooooooooooooooooo good looking!!!!!! what a beautiful hazel/greenish eyes and shour curly hair......... Jesus, he is the most good looking person on earth! i quickly decided that i should watch more tennis,....at least just for Safin.........
i cut the only small picture and enlarged from my computer and put on my wall......
so i could look at Marat's handsome face everyday......
woooo....Life is so sweet......
my brother used to think tennis is '' totally wasting of time'', so he wouldnt know who marat is.....
by looking at Marat photo on my wall near my bed, he tipped that i got a new bf or so and keep telling Mum that ''Hellan got a very good looking guy and he looks Russian''......
I laughed.... it is not possible! At least my brother admits that Marat is good looking even he is a guy LOL......
That's my 1st love with tennis ,,,,,
let me remember tha beautiful name---Marat Safin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A super later on, who only use 10 mins to change my life-----GOD i love tennis now.........