By Scoop Malinowski
Status: Former ATP pro and current captain of Canada’s Davis Cup 2022 world champion team.
Ht: 6-foot-1 Wt: 175 pounds.
DOB: September 26, 1984 in Niagara Falls, Canada.
Tennis Inspiration: Goran and Pete Sampras.
Nicknames: Frank The Tank. I learned that one a few years ago. I thought it was funny. I had a giggle with that one.
Hobbies/Leisure Activities: Golf. Love fishing in my off time. Probably my favorite thing to do when I’m not on court, I’m on a boat fishing. Pretty much it. I’m pretty low-key.
Favorite Movies: Good one. Probably Gladiator is up there. Aw man, that’s a tough one. Matrix. I’ll give you one more – Men of Honor.
Favorite TV Shows: Not a big TV fan.
Musical Tastes: More of a rock guy, U2, I like techno, dance, getting into it. You wouldn’t know any of those names.
First Tennis Memory: I was nine, playing under 10 tournament. And I was beating a guy 6-0, we were playing an eight-game pro set. And he went in the corner, got on his knees and started praying. Nine-years-old, I’ll never forget that one [smiles]. The first match I ever played.
Pre-Match Feeling: I try to stay relaxed. I try to just put the music on, think about what I gotta do on the court.
Favorite Meal: I’d have to say a dessert – chocolate brownie, hot brownie, with vanilla ice cream on top.
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Definitely peanut butter chocolate.
First Job: Me and my friend, we made this stand outside of a hotel and sold burgers and called them Yummy Burgers. To the workers around there. We were both eleven years old. Made about 400 bucks over the summer.
First Car: Acura Integra (silver).
Favorite Players To Watch: I’ve obviously admired Federer. His game is more towards what I want to lean my game’s style toward.
Greatest Sports Moment: Oh, tough one. I would have to say the quarterfinals of the Masters Series (2007 in Montreal). Playing against Rafa — I didn’t end up winning the match, I ended up losing the match but it was just an incredible feeling. In front of my home crowd and playing that match, it was unbelievable. Even though I lost the match it was probably the most fun I ever had playing a match. For that tournament I was playing great.
Most Painful Moment: Was getting injured and being out for months. And having huge events, knowing that I could do well and could get my ranking up. But just not being able to play, not being able to do anything. Just being in bed and having to stick it out and just waiting. Not knowing how long it would be till I’m ready to play again.
Favorite Tournaments: Canadian Open, US Open, all the Grand Slams.
Funny Tennis Memory: Oh, there’s a lot. I actually knocked a guy’s coffee right out of his hand, one time, all over his white shirt. He wasn’t too happy about that. On the sidelines. Actually hit his coffee, like, dead on, and splattered everywhere, like a bomb. That was a while ago, I was like 15. I caught a forehand a little late, skid off the line, it just bee-lined right at his coffee. He didn’t have time to react. It just hit it dead on.
Closest Tennis Friend(s): Close with the Canadians and Yugoslavian guys. I’m pretty much friends with most of the guys on the Tour.
Funniest Player(s) Encountered: That’s a good one. I know a couple but I don’t want to give them their fame for this [smiles].
Toughest Competitors: I would say Nadal.
Embarrassing Tennis Memory: Walking up to the line without my racquet one time [laughter]. I think it happened at the US Open during qualies two years ago. It was late in the third set. And I was so – I think I had heat stroke – I was so mentally just tired. I couldn’t even get my mind to think any more. The ref called time, I got my towel ready to serve. I looked down and it was like, There’s something missing here. So everybody was looking at me, like, what’s this guy doing? And I walked back and just got my racquet. Kind of made it as I went to get my water. So it didn’t look real, because it was one of those really embarrassing moments, I was trying to play it off, like (no problem). (Did you end up winning?) I won it. Against a Czech guy Vanek.
People Qualities Most Admired: I just love to see good people. People with a good heart. If you have a good heart, it means a lot and it takes you far in life. Where ever – on and off the court. And I like to see when players treat the fans good. Treat the ballboys and people on court with respect. I think it shows a lot from a player.
Canada · Davis Cup · Frank Dancevic
Scoop Malinowski · February 1, 2013 at 9:48 pm
Quite possibly my favorite tennis Biofile of all time.
Steve · February 1, 2013 at 11:40 pm
FANTASTIC player.
Dan Markowitz · February 2, 2013 at 8:34 am
Scoop,
When you’re stooping to doing Frank Dancevic Bi-files you’ve gone too low. I like Frank’s game and he seems like a good guy, but Frank is on the far end of his way down and out.
Scoop Malinowski · February 2, 2013 at 8:49 am
Dancevic just dominated Granollers in Davis Cup, to put Canada up on Spain 2-0. I like his game and his Biofile is one of the best I’ve ever done in tennis, very interesting and humorous fella.
Harold · February 3, 2013 at 7:51 am
Dancevic has an extremely hot wife, worthy of her own biofile..Sat next to her at the Open last year
Dan Markowitz · February 3, 2013 at 3:45 pm
Alright, Harold, I knew it was only a short time before some dude came out and mentioned Dancy’s hot wife. Here at Tennis-Prose.com we try to concern ourselves with more of the intellectual, high-minded side of the sport…we don’t talk about the hotness level of players’ girlfriends or wives.
That being said…Dancy’s wife is ridiculously hot. Gives him a bye from anything he does in the game from here on in.
Kishnabe · February 4, 2013 at 7:48 pm
Do you guys have a biofile of any of the top 4 guys….4th guy being Nadal and not Ferrer? 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · February 5, 2013 at 7:50 am
Kishnabe, Yes I have done Biofiles with Djokovic, Federer, Nadal and Murray, at earlier stages of their careers. Now it’s very difficult to get them one on one though we can ask them one or two questions at press conferences, which I always try to do to update their Biofiles. I’m thinking about posting my Federer 1999 Biofile but I’m torn because I’d like to keep it exclusive for my Federer book later this year.
Kishnabe · February 5, 2013 at 10:39 pm
Aw, well hopefully your Federer book comes up in the local library like your Rios book has.
How long have you been doing biofiles?
Scoop Malinowski · February 6, 2013 at 8:31 am
Kishnabe, I have been doing Biofiles since 1992. You can see more at http://www.thebiofile.com. May I ask where you are and what public library is carrying my Rios book? Thanks,
Kishnabe · February 11, 2013 at 10:06 pm
Toronto Public Library…..there a copy of your book there.
Scoop Malinowski · February 12, 2013 at 8:32 am
Thanks Kishnabe, I didn’t know that. Kinda surprised it made it’s way to that great city. How about the Leafs so far this season. 6-0 vs. the Habs and last night they took down the Flyers, first place. Amazing.