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Exclusive: Kirilenko talks Ovechkin, but don’t expect any revelations
5 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
A Canadian-based magazine which I contribute to requested a quick Q&A feature of tennis pro Maria Kirilenko volleying some simple questions about her famous fiancee, the NHL superstar Alexander Ovechkin a couple of years ago.
Things didn’t work out two years ago at the US Open or again last year in Miami, but then a correspondent of this site was able to ask Maria some questions at the French Open last year.
Unfortunately, Maria is somewhat on the shy side, especially regarding her love life, so the content was just too bland for the Canadian mag to purchase and I ended up, after all the legwork, having to eat the piece.
Now that the Sochi Olympics are centerstage, and the omnipresent Ovechkin, with Maria at his side, is about to embark on the quest to lead Russia to an elusive gold medal against Canada, USA, Sweden, Finland and Czech Republic, I share with our dear Tennis-prose.com readers this exclusive if unspectacular interview…
Q Does Alexander give you any extra motivation on tennis?
Maria Kirilenko: Of course. He is here and he motivates me everyday. It’s best. We are supporting each other especially when we have time. When I have time I support him. Now he has time so he is here supporting me.
Q How much time do you spend in states?
Maria Kirilenko: A lot. Especially this year. I watched him a lot.
Q How is your hockey skills?
Maria Kirilenko: My hockey skills? I can stay on ice [smiles].
Q And his tennis skills?
Maria Kirilenko: He is good. He is really disappointed this time because he broke his leg and can’t play tennis neither with me nor with my dad. But maybe in a month or two months he will be able to play with me.
Q Who are his favorite tennis players besides you?
Maria Kirilenko: You should ask him.
"We are supporting each other"
Andrew Miller · February 13, 2014 at 7:38 pm
Ha kirilenko seems like a good person ! People like exciting stuff but who cares more reason to cheer kirilenko.
Scoop Malinowski · February 13, 2014 at 9:49 pm
Yeah I liked her answers too, her relationship with Ovie is very personal for her and nobody’s business. From what I’ve seen of them via twitter and facebook etc, they are happily in love. Good for them.
Andrew Miller · February 13, 2014 at 11:15 pm
Kirilenko is a reader! She reads a ton – I hope she has a copy of Scoop’s books, she’d love em. Maybe Scoop had noted this earlier.
Anyways I like the WTA – the tennis there (personally I think it was OFTEN very good) has gone up a level – they are at parity.
Scoop Malinowski · February 14, 2014 at 7:44 am
Andrew, the Russian players are impressively smart, so many of the ones I’ve interviewed are just so intelligent. Tursunov, Zvonareva, Kirilenko, Youzhny, Mirnyi, etc. Many can speak multiple languages. I like WTA tennis too, that Fed Cup brawl between Kerber and Cibulkova last weekend was high level amazing tennis.
Abe Froman · February 14, 2014 at 9:30 am
kirilenko’s definitely has a cleaner wholesome sexy aura around her versus a sleazy / gaudy look……has andreev moved on as well or is he missing MK ? – who IMO is the best out of the russian / eastern corridor bunch….LOL