Today btrussia.com managed to talk with young beach tennis players and their parents about family support, reasons to play beach tennis and plans for the future.
Yuri Livanov (father of Regina Livanova, 57 ITF Ranking at 07/09/2015)
RUSSIA
BTRUSSIA: When Regina started to practice beach tennis?
Yuri: This happened spontaneously in July 2012, our friends went to Samara to "Russian Cup" and invited Regina to participate the events in mixed doubles.
BTRUSSIA: Why did she choose this kind of sport?
Yuri: Regina started to play tennis since she was 5. But when Regina turned 14 development of tennis started to decline in Yaroslavl. After returning from the "Cup of Russia - 2012" she was in love with beach tennis, which has friendly and welcoming atmosphere at the tournaments, easy rules and etc. Therefore, we decided to start practice beach tennis and tennis at the same time.
BTRUSSIA: What goals do you set for your daughter?
Yuri: I think now our first goals already reached, like participating in Russian and International tournaments and also victories. Like all parents, we would like to see Regina as a champion of Russia, winner of the international tournaments of ITF, and Olympic Champion in the future! Cuz I am sure that beach tennis will be included in the program of Olympic Games.
BTRUSSIA: How do you think, the presence of parents at the game helps or distracts?
Yuri: I can’t give you straight answer, cuz her reaction to my presence is different every time, so I try to watch her games but not to distract her.
BTRUSSIA: Where is the best conditions for youngsters: in Italy or in Russia? And how parents should support their kids?
Yuri: Russian beach tennis is very young, it’s not so famous as in Italy. So I guess it is easier to shine bright in Russia. If we do not touch the financial side of help of parents, we think the most important is our support… in everything. We just love this modern and dynamically developing sport.
BTRUSSIA: What is part in such a good results of Regina?
Yuri: Beach tennis in Russia grows, but unfortunately, we still don’t have highly qualified coaches or indoor training courts for year-round training. I think that my parent part is the organization of trips and trainings in Italy with top players (also thanks to Ekaterina Davydova for help).
As parents, my wife and I gave Regina the opportunity to play and train beach tennis. The Italians are the pioneers and leaders in the sport, so to succeed, you have to train and learn to play like them. Being a master of sports in swimming, I had to learn how to play this new sport too, to be for Regina coach and sparring partner at our hometown.
Tommaso Giovannini (30 ITF ranking at 07/09/2015)
BTRUSSIA: You are very young, but already reached a lot in beach tennis. Your parents support you? And how do you manage BT with school/university?
Tommy: My father supported me since I was young. I play beach tennis not too much, actually I did triathlon for 2 years. I started to train BT in the 2012, and I’m very proud of my results now. Well, my dad is important to me, he helps me to travel to reach my goals. But I should say thanks also to my coach Cirella Danny!
I'm studying engineering now and also I’m training so much, it’s hard, but I can do both things together.
BTRUSSIA: How do you think, who has the best conditions for young players: Italy or Russia?
Tommy: Italy is the mother of Beach tennis. Practice here is very easy, you don’t need much money to start playing. I guess with Russia it is more difficult.
BTRUSSIA: Tell us about your last tournaments in Japan.
Tommy: I won G1 tournament in Japan in Miyazaki. It was a very difficult final, our opponents played very well. And conditions were very strange... It was raining, so the ball went more slowly! And it was Dunlop ball so it was very heavy and difficult to make defend.
I did my first final at G1 in Fukuoka, but we lost. My partner was ill. But in the second one G1 in Miyazaki we finally won! This was my first G1 victory!
This year I won all kind of tournaments: G1 G2 G3 G4. And I'm very happy!
I want to thank my sponsor! Thank you EDAM! And I want to thank my dad! Thank you!
BTRUSSIA: You already made your final choice to develop yourself in BT?
Tommy: Yes! Because I really love beach tennis!
Carlo Giovanni (father of Тоmmaso)
ITALY
BTRUSSIA: When your son started to play BT and why?
Carlo: My son Tommy started to train and play beach tennis professionally in 2012. He started to train because he played with me when he was a little boy.
BTRUSSIA: Do you support your son in BT?
Carlo: Yes. I always support my son, mainly I give a mental support for him.
BTRUSSIA: What is his next goal?
Carlo: The main goal is to play with top players and be a top player.
Michael Zheleznov (Junior National Beach Tennis Team)
RUSSIA
BTRUSSIA: Mike, why do you like beach tennis?
Misha: I like beach tennis because it’s a double’s game. Partners always share with the joy of victory and the bitterness of defeat together. Compared to tennis the atmosphere is friendlier here. Moreover, I love I can jump for the ball to land softly on the sand, jump up and continue playing. I really like this dynamic.
BTRUSSIA: Does presence of your parents at the game distract you?
Misha: The presence of my parents on the court during the match distracts me because they can't resist to share an advice. They can give a hint during the game, and it makes me feel uncomfortable in front of the opponent. Or they can start to scold me during the game that really puts me off.
BTRUSSIA: So which kind of help would you like to get?
Misha: The silent presence, mental support, positive emotions and good vibes. And of course I want my parents continue to take me to beach tennis classes no matter what.
BTRUSSIA: What are your plans for the future?
Misha: I want to continue to practice beach tennis, I really like to play with my partner. I want to perform well in the Championship of Russia and to take part in the World Cup.
Anna Zheleznova (Misha’s mother)
RUSSIA
BTRUSSIA: When Misha started to practice beach tennis and why?
Anna: Misha's First competition – Russian Cup. 2015. He played BT for fun for two years at the summer camp, just like other activities - football, frisbee, pioneerball, potatoe and other... This spring he started to train once a week in Moscow with his coach Artem Paramonychev and with help of Liudmila Nikoyan.
BTRUSSIA: Why did you choose BT for Misha?
Anna: I can't say that we chose this sport. We already had rackets, we’ve been practicing beach tennis to relax on the beach, played for fun with friends and etc. And when junior competitions were announced, we decided we will try to participate. Artem told us that he already found a good partner for my son, and on the first training session we understood we know this boy very well, and his parents too. Therefore, it was not a problem to meet and find a common language. The first success stimulated further action: tournament in Samara, the tournament in Palanga, and now we are going to Saratov.
BTRUSSIA: How do you think, your presence at the matches distracts your son ?
Anna: I asked Misha if I could come to see. And he told me it’s not a problem. I think that sometimes it is useful for him to hear something from me during the game. Sometimes it helps to shake him and wake him up. However, if there is a coach next to him I prefer not involve.
BTRUSSIA: Where are the best conditions for youngsters: in Italy or in Russia? And how parents should support their kids?
Anna: What do we have in Russia? Not much. There is no kid’s competitions, no participants etc. Everyone who tried to play BT do it well. On the international level, I believe we should count on adults Pro doubles. I do not see the point to make it for juniors right now. And I honestly don't think that is possible to be an athlete in Russian – I mean to be just a beach tennis player. You cannot make money in this sport, so I consider BT as a leisure, an able to meet the ambitions, to have fun and to stay in a good shape. I have no idea how it is going in Italy. Kids who came to the World Team Champ did not seem so unattainable, strong, but not unconquerable. Women Pro for example seemed more intimidating. So maybe Italians start to train serious after 15, but this is only my guess.
I believe we need to help and support to our kids while they are so young, and even better to play too. When the children get older and play adult tournaments - it probably should be only at the most important tournaments in mutual desire. I saw in Samara how family supported our Pro player Nikolay Guryev. He lost, but the parents cheered him and his partner, hugged and said they still played well. It is always nice!
BTRUSSIA: What is your part in the results of Misha?
Anna: I have to say that Misha's success on 70% belongs to us and the other 30% belongs to himself.
I hope that junior competition will grow so my son could understand that the free lunch is over, so he would take it more serious. He is 12 now, and his dad always says that at his age he didn't realize any, and the serious attitude came only after 15. Well, I hope.
Mara Casadei, mother of Mattia Bazzi (Junior National Beach Tennis Team)
ITALY
BTRUSSIA: When your son started to play BT and why?
Mara: My son started playing when he was very small, pretty much just managed to hold a racket. As for training, it started about 7 years ago (when he was 6). I guess he chose this sport because in our city (which is close to the sea) all children, boys, girls, and adults playing beach tennis and he has great fun.
BTRUSSIA: Why do you think, parent’s support is important to young player?
Mara: I believe that help of parents is very important, because they show enthusiasm otherwise children quickly tire of playing, and then it is crucial to have the desire and willingness to accompany children to training, tournaments, etc
BTRUSSIA: Do you think the presence of parents at the game helps or distracts?
Mara: As for our family, we always go to watch the games of our son, and because we enjoy ourselves, and because our son is very pleased to see our presence, then I think it is important to involve parents in the sport.
Beach tennis moving forward, this year we had the first junior world team competitions and we hope to get an international Junior calendar in the future, and junior ITF ranking too. BTRussia.com wishes good luck to the young players and a big patience to their parents.
Reporter btrussia.com Ekaterina Bobkova
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