Tennis Prose




Oct/19

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Biofile: Robert Farah Interview

Status: Wimbledon and US Open champion in doubles in 2019 with partner Juan Sebastian Cabal. Clinched the 2019 world no. 1 ATP doubles ranking.

DOB: January 27, 1987 In: Montreal, Quebec

Ht: 6-4 Wt: 185

First Tennis Memory: I started playing tennis when I was three. I have good memories in my city Cali. Some of them involved Juan Sebastian Cabal too because he played when he was like five, too. At my academy, my dad used to be my coach. We used to have a tennis academy. I’d go there, hit some balls, and go up the trees, hit for a half hour more. It was very recreational. I think that’s what got me into it.

Tennis Inspirations: My dad was always behind me when I was a young kid. He was my coach till I was fifteen. He’s the one who guided me. I have to thank him for where I’m at right now. And a player – I used to love Marat Safin. And I really like Federer. I really enjoy his game.

Last Book Read: It was about World War II, Shoot I’m Already Dead.

Current Car: Audi A4 (beige).

First Famous Player You Met Or Encountered: I was in college (Southern California). I was working in Connecticut and I had to go play an exhibition with James Blake. We just hit and played some points. That was in 2008.

Greatest Career Moment: I’ve had a couple. Winning Wimbledon. Winning US Open. Becoming no. 1 in the world. Winning Rio in 2014, our first title, with Sebastian. Winning Pan American Games for Colombia. And winning the first NCAA we won as a team with USC in 2009 with coach Smith.

Most Painful Moment: Man, I’ve had a lot of those too [smiles]. I think whenever you lose a match with match points. In Sao Paulo we had at least five or six match points. The match was totally in our favor and controlled by us and we ended up losing a tough one to Guillermo Garcia Lopez and Philip Oswald. That was a tough one to come back from, going to bed with those thoughts in your head. It’s so hard. When I played singles, I had a couple of matches where I was already (ranked) 160, kind of breaking through the rankings, I had a tough, tough loss. Couple of injuries, tendinitis in my wrist that actually made me stop playing singles.

Strangest Match: I remember I went out to serve and I go three double faults in the first game. That’s pretty unusual. And then (Bruno) Soares goes and serves three doubles faults on his serve. And it was like, Are we tennis players right here? What’s going on?

Funniest Players Encountered: There’s a couple. I enjoy Dmitry Tursunov’s humor. It’s very dry, sarcastic humor. I follow Karlovic on Twitter, I think he’s pretty funny, following his tweets. Then Latin Americans…I always enjoy throwing jokes around with Santi Gonzalez and Victor Estrella.

Favorite Sport To Watch Outside Tennis: Definitely golf. I love golf. My girlfriend (Belen Mozo from Spain) is a golfer. I think she got me hooked in it. I enjoy watching her play and I enjoy putting on the Golf Channel and stay at my house on my couch and watch the Golf Channel.

Three Athletes You Like To Watch & Follow: Let’s put Roger there. I follow a lot of tennis. I’m like a tennis addict. Following all the results. I love watching the Bryans, learning from them. I like Tiger (Woods) too.

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Stracciatella.

Funny Tennis Memory: When we won in Rios, we went in our clothes in the pool with the trophy and all that stuff, like new things the ATP wants to do. I had a blast with it.

People Qualities Most Admired: I like nice, good people. Civil people that respect the rules. The first thing I see in people is if they’re kind, if they open the door for someone. I try to be like that with people. I try to be as nice with everyone I encounter. And I expect that from them too.

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6 comments

  • Ollie · October 16, 2019 at 10:05 pm

    Nice interview. Robert Farah sounds like a lovely man, and born in MontrĂ©al – who knew?!

    Thanks.

  • Jon King · October 17, 2019 at 9:00 am

    I love his answer to the last question. Common courtesy like holding the door for someone, using a turn signal instead of making someone wait to see if you are turning or going straight, being nice to the awkward kid behind the counter at the fast food restaurant, not blocking the aisle with your cart at the grocery store. Trying to be around people who have that common decency in them makes life go a bit easier.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 17, 2019 at 9:41 am

    Thanks Ollie, I didn’t know Farah was Montreal born either. Great city, one of my favorites. Farah has had an amazing year and career with Cabal, they have played together for so many years together, almost a decade now. And they finally reached the pinnacle of the sport this year, great story. Two class champions.

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 17, 2019 at 9:47 am

    Sure does Jon, Farah is a positive figure and he gives a positive message. True champion. If only our schools could teach kids to live and behave like this, instead of the ridiculous agendas they promote. If only Hollywood promoted such positive nice behavior instead of promoting and glorifying sex and violence and drugs non stop. Okay back to tennis, wonder who the next no. 1 doubles team will be after Farah and Cabal?

  • Jon King · October 17, 2019 at 7:29 pm

    Scoop, has to come from the family or even more, the kids themselves. I have seen kids from poor homes, good homes, private schools with manners classes, Republican homes, Democratic homes, religious homes, secular homes, and on and on….some are respectful, others not. Its not schools, its not liberalism, its not video games, its not Hollywood.

    Common courtesy is impossible to define by any background. It just seems to be or not to be. One of my cousins is very good to others, very polite, another from the same family is not. See this over and over, a kids raised in the same household, same schools, one is polite, another not. Been treated with the utmost respect by bums on the streets of Philly, kids singing rap music at the gas station, and been like trash by wealthy ladies from the midwest. You just never know.

    My spider sense is tingling after reading the wording of your last post’s 3rd and 4th lines that you and I may be on opposite political sides…just a hunch…so yeah, we probably should stick to tennis!

  • Scoop Malinowski · October 17, 2019 at 8:24 pm

    Jon, cultural influences are a factor too. Everyone is influenced by what they see on TV. Companies pay millions for 30 seconds during Super Bowl because advertising programming works. Positive inspiring movies like Rocky and Rudy inspire millions who try to copy what they see. On the flip side, evil serial killer movies like Silence of the Lambs and Manhunter also inspire impressionable souls to copy. Nature and nurture. Okay back to tennis. Did I ever tell you how many players Marcelo Rios has inspired and influenced with his game? Add Liam Broady to the list, he calls Rios his “idol.”

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