Women's doubles:

Correspondents of BTRUSSIA managed to talk to the winners of the tournament Sergey Kuptsov, Julia Chubarova, Nikolay Guriev and Irina Glimakova.

BTRussia: You are very emotional during the game, it helps you to concentrate or you're so support your partner this way?

Sergey Kuptsov: Every athlete has a different temperament. It's just adrenaline, those emotions that help you to be in the game, here and now, to be a leader, help to win. It is very important to be able to control the situation and to free emotions, especially at the professional level, I am more than focused, especially in games. This is the image of a winner. You can say anything at these moments. What about to support my partner, then it is mutual. It is a double and team sport, so we are one on the court!

BTRussia: During the Championships some spectators said that your voice sounds like the voices of other top players...

Sergey Kuptsov: I think it’s my voice. In General, it does not matter, but the audience knows better. I think we all have got profit from this, as the game becomes more spectacular. But I must admit that I will be very pleased, if anyone in the future will encourage partner with my voice!

BTRussia: You have the most number of victories at Rus Champ, this is a great achievement. Tell us about what changed on this tournament and what is the most memorable victory for you!?

Sergey Kuptsov: I am sure that real professionals don't collect titles, your experience is more important. It is very important to understand, why are you doing this and then you’ve got result. Geography of the Rus Champ changed but for the last 4 years the tournament held in Moscow. Along with the Championship players changed, and myself, there were created perfect couples, then broke up, some were reunited. Good news is that the level of game is obviously increased, there is a competition of top-trained athletes. Rus Champ is a ticket to the world team championships and the level at this tournament is very high. So this tournament has his image, I think, the tournament status will not change, and next Champs will be even more special. It’s great that from 2015 at the same time we have junior competitions. I noticed that our rising stars really improved their game. And the strong juniors are not only in Moscow and Sain-Petersburg but also in regions with not so many conditions. However, they performed brilliantly.
I remember all games without exception. Of course, the most memorable are those games where you could get over yourself. For example, in 2013, on the same courts we won in the finals against the Zaichenko brothers in the tiebreak in the 3rd set, 24-22, and played 5 match points. Of course, victory 2016 is important, as recently I suffered from a serious back injury. Rehab took a lot of time and effort. Despite this, we played well. All our victories are the result of giant work, and faith in ourselves.

BTRussia: Tell about the men's tournament. You and Artem lost in the fight for bronze, what did not work?

Nikolai Guriev: The Tournament started with a confident victory over our fellow tennis players. The second round was against strong players Niko Juico and Stas Zelenkov. These opponents we know well, as we train together and they knew our game too. We played three intense emotion sets, which resulted in our victory. But this match I remember with next episode: the sand on our court was very hard (what in fact should not be in beach tennis, since we play with bare feet). So in the first game, I almost said goodbye to the sport. After jumping I landed on the left foot and there was no amortization from the sand, the leg began to bend backwards but in the end it was ok. To my great happiness my knee stays at its place (I already had surgery 3 years ago and was worry). Then the pain left, but the resurrection took place. In quarter final we played against positive guys from Saint Petsburg (who unexpectedly came to this level), and we win in a normal mode. The next day at semis we played against first racket of Russia. I enjoyed the match, but it was the lack of the skills that separates us in the rankings with our opponents. In the match for 3rd place it is not that something did not work with us, it is more like our opponents Ivan Syrov and Igor Panin had success. Igor was served superbly and played well, Vanya took balls and made magic at the net. Plus our small misstep and the score was not on our side. I think if we will learn from this game, in the following games we can show a different result.

BTRussia: Congrats on the mixed champion title! Tell me about the emotions. You and Julia have often played together, but not always the matches were so successful. What is the secret this time? :)

Nikolai Guriev: Thank you very much! It was a very difficult tournament in the mixed doubles, even though we were seeded first but the real test has already begun at the stage of 1/4, where we faced and ambitious young couple from St. Petersburg, Novikov and Kamenetskaya. It was very difficult to win. Of course, we had match-point in the second set when the score was 63 to 53, but failed to convert them. In the third set at the right moment, snatched a couple of important points that decided the outcome of the meeting in our favor. After this match the victory in 1/2 seemed easier... Hmm, just realized now that we played against many athletes from St. Petersburg at this tournament. That's where they pay attention to mixed! Well, the end, of course, was amazing. Competent solutions from our side, a desperate struggle for every ball, incredible games - all this resulted in a long-awaited victory! Julia played probably one of her best games, and I just had to help her at the right time to complete the game. Very happy and wait for the next tournament to repeat our success!

BTRussia: Did your plans change for the beach-tennis summer?

Nikolai Guriev: The Plans didn’t change. Rather, these victories made me closer to the my plans, now need only to practice more and more, so as to reach the top easier, than to keep it!

BTRussia: Tell us about how you got the championship, if all plans were implemented?

Irina Glimakova: Champ was very successful for me. I was able to confirm the title in women doubles and the result improved in the mixed doubles. In General all was very focused, intense and effective. So I was pleased with the Championship.

BTRussia: The winning Recipe from Irina Glimakova!?

BTRussia: You prefer to play mixed or women double?

 

 

 

BTRussia: Congrats with your mixed champion title! Tell us about your impressions of the game with Nicko.

Julia Chubarova: We played a lot together with Kolya. And I have always loved to play with him. However, before there was simply not enough tactical knowledge or something. We haven't played together since January, and over the past six months have learned a lot. What eventually came out in a joint result. Insanely happy with my game and my partners game too. Nicko have scored all desired goals. And it gave me confidence. I just had to play correctly, be stable and give him the opportunity to "solve the problem". We also had strong double psychologically. In any situation, encouraged each other, and that helped to get out of the 3-5 in the first set of the finals. Emotions in the match were so unusual and memorable, so my tears flowed after. It's great when you have a partner that helps to develop and to feel "the thrill of the game."

We join the congratulations and wishes to all the participants and fans of beach tennis in Russia to develop further in our beloved sport and to achieve higher heights! Go forward, Russia!