One of best players In the history of Russian tennis - Mikhail South - announced a quick completion of a career. The site portal tells more about the solution of the 36-year-old athlete, and also recalls its main achievements.
Farewell to St. Petersburg
A statement that is certainly upset by the fans of Mikhail South Talent, the 36-year-old athlete made after the victory (6: 2, 6: 0) over the American Emil Reinberg in the first circle match at the Atlanta tournament (USA).
"First of all, I want to thank everyone for the excellent atmosphere, it's always nice to play here. Now I would like to declare that I finish my career. Time has come, it is a very exciting moment. I will spend in a series of tennis tournaments in the United States, and after playing at home, in St. Petersburg. This will last tournament In my career, "the South, whose words told the official Twitter US Open.
The decision of the Russian looks quite logical. First, 36 years old - very decent, if not to say old, for tennis age. Yes, at a high level still stands in the peer of the South - Swiss Roger Federer, but Mikhail has not been boasting such results for a long time. At the moment, the Russian occupies a modest 105th place in the ranking of the Association of Professional Tennis players (ATP), outside the first fuel players of the world of the South Africa has already been three years old, and in the top ten, Mikhail has not been from the distant 2011. The tournaments of the ATP series were last conquered Russian five years ago.
Despite disappointing statistics, a large number of minor injuries and a systematic fall in the ranking, President of the Russian Tennis Federation Shamil Tarpishchev does not believe that Mikhail South is worth finishing with tennis
Despite such disappointing statistics, a large number of minor injuries and a planned fall in the South Rating, President of the Russian Tennis Federation Shamil Tarpishchev does not believe that Mikhail should end with tennis.
"South won a lot of imaging victories, thanks to him the Russian team for the first time won the Davis Cup, he is a real patriot. But the moments are coming when it is necessary to make a decision, especially for injuries. That's right or not, we will see later, but I would like him to play yet, but this is his choice, you have to reckon with him. For example, Djokovic recently fell almost a year, but now began to play at his level again, so I wish the southern sports longevity, "said Tarpishchev in an interview with TASS.
The tournament in St. Petersburg, which should be for the southern final chord in his career, will be held from 16 to 23 September.
Team player
In recent years, the Russian national team in Tennis does not always make it easy to the elite global group of the Davis Cup, but more recently, Russians raised a prestigious trophy over his head twice - in 2002 and 2006. Both times this happened with the direct participation of the South.
In December 2002, the Russian team in the finals of the Davis Cup fought with the France team, and the tournament took place in the Paris sports complex "Beri". The partners of the South teammate were two legendary Russian tennis players - Marat Safin and Yevgeny Kafelnikov, as well as Andrei Stolyarov, who did not have a chance in the decisive meeting. After two victories of Safin alone, the defeat of the Kafelnikov and the loss of the Russian duet in the paired match the fate of Trofei was solved in a decisive fifth meeting on which coaching Staff The teams put up Mikhail Southern and Field-Henri Mathieu. At that time, the athletes were in the neighboring positions in the fourth ten rating of ATP and gave a crazy on the beauty and glow of the match. Mathieu confidently took the first two sets (6: 3, 6: 2), after which the French audience prepared to celebrate the next triumph. However, South managed to gather and took the third (6: 3), and then the fourth batch (7: 5). After such a crazy Cambak, the psychological advantage was on the side of the Russian, which was stronger and in the decisive fifth set (6: 4). This victory allowed the Russian national team for the first time in history to raise the Davis Cup head.
Four years later, Tarpishchev's wards again reached the decisive stage of the tournament, this time the final passed in Moscow, and in the opponents there was a team of Argentina led by Star Tennis player David Nalbandian. To conquer the trophy to the Russians, for which South, Safin, Nikolay Davydenko and Dmitry Tursunov, were needed again all five matches and again, as in Paris, South was thrown into the decisive battle. This time he was opposed by José Akasuso, and the Russian needed only four sets (6: 3, 3: 6, 6: 3, 7: 6) to bring the audience "Olympic" delight, and the country to bring the second and while the last Cup of Davis .
As part of the Russian national team, South three times performed on Olympic GamesBut the player could not get to medals. His best result was the exit to the Final of the 2004 Games in Athens.
Glory, money, victory
Behind professional careerwhich lasted 19 years old, South won 10 ATP tournaments in a single discharge and nine trophies - in the double room. The total amount of earned prizes has exceeded $ 14 million, the main achievements in the Tournaments of the Grand Slam series are two exits in the semifinals on US Open in 2006 and 2010.
The most successful in the southern career (if you do not take into account the success in the Davis Cup) were 2010 and 2013, when the Russian athlete managed to win two ATP series tournaments. The rich in victory was 2008, when a Russian reached the highest point in the personal ranking - the eighth position.
Many tennis players are constantly changing coaches throughout the career, after another failure, the athlete is looking for a new specialist. However, this story is not about Mikhail. Mentor Boris Sobin works with the South from the distant 1992, making a star tennis star from a talented boy. Yes, Mikhail never possessed outstanding abilities, but it was always distinguished by the diligence and character of the winner. South is one of the few tennis players fighting until the last point. His ability to save hopeless matches always celebrated specialists and simple tennis fans.
Honored Master of Sports, Tennis player Mikhail South took eighth place in the world ranking in 2008. To get to the top ten managed a little. In addition to Mikhail, in the top turned out russian champions Andrei Chesnokov, and Marat Safin. Until 2013, he played as part of the national team at the Davis Cup. On the account of the tennis player 19 wins in ATP and two semifinals of a big helmet. Despite the fact that the southern career was not built smoothly, there were ups and downs, he kept on the list of the top 50 players for 13 seasons.
Carier start
Mikhail South began to play tennis in 6 years. His parents had no relation to sports. Father Mikhail was an entrepreneur, and the mother love is an economist. They both loved tennis and decided to give their sons to workout. Andrei, the elder brother of Misha, did not make their way into professionals, rather quickly he began the coaching career. The talent of the younger South noticed almost immediately. Already at 10 years old, Boris Sobyn, he began to study with him.
Native Moskvich, Mikhail confidently walked to victory on junior tournaments. In 1999, he fell into the final of the Australian Open Championship. So without becoming the winner, South continued to show his best result on the Kremlin Cup and competitions in Germany. This year, Mikhail moved from juniors to professionals.
Marki Mikhail South Matches
In 2000, the tennis player first performed in the Russian national team at the Davis Cup. A little later, he fell to the "adult" tournament of the Grand Slam in France. Successes at the ATP Challenger raised the status of Mikhail. He performed in Melbourne and New York, and three rounds passed on Wimbledon. At the competition Masters in Monte Carlo, he defeated two victories at once. Career athlete grew by sevenmile steps. However, in 2002, the tragedy happened, father Mikhail died in the accident. He dedicted all subsequent victories to him.
Having recovered from grief, the southern again returns to the court, marking 2003 by finals in St. Petersburg and Beijing. He finally enters the list of the 20 best players. After that, the career again goes to the decline. The next two years, the tennis player lost and losing his position, but he managed to succeed in paired discharge At the Kremlin Cup with Maxim Mirny.
The highest place in the ranking is the eighth place, Mikhail South reached in 2008. He won the tournament in Chennai and reached the quarterfinals of Australian Open. During this period, the tennis player wins the best players above him in the ranking: and Nikolai Davydenko.
A little later in the Netherlands an athlete beat Novak Djokovich, who at that time was the second racket of the world. Up until 2014, Mikhail no less successfully performed in a double discharge. In 2013 in Valencia, he won his anniversary tenth title.
Game style
Mikhail is known for his special player to rejoice at the court. After the victory, he applies a racket to the head and performs military greeting. This is due to the fact that the father of the athlete was a military. Since the hand cannot be applied to the "empty head", instead of the head remove it uses the racket. By the way, the sponsor that provides inventory was Head for a long time. German brand is responsible for shoes and clothing.
The main face of the brand is Andy Murray, however, Mikhail also has a pretty good contract. In 2010, there were reports that South refused to further cooperate with Adidas and signed a contract with a young Los Clothing brand. But in a sign and shoes with a trillery, he still stands.
The athlete is different from his colleagues an unusual manner of impact on the left. He takes the racket so that it seems as if he will make a blow with both hands. However, at the last moment, Mikhail removes his left hand.
In general, the tennis player is quite restrained on the court and in life. At the same time there were two critical cases when he broke his head to blood. For the first time it happened on the match in Miami in 2008. When Mikhail began to play the Spaniard of Nicolas Almagro, then he hit himself several times a racket so that blood went. After the help of the doctor, the Southern event eventually won the meeting. But this behavior hit the video and was long discussed. Roller marked Mikhail Youzhny and Blood popular worldwide. The second time the athlete did the same in 2015 in France.
Mikhail South and Golf
Tennis and golf quite often go there. So Yevgeny Kafelnikov achieved considerable success with the stick in his hand. However, this is rather a hobby that grows out of love for sports. Mikhail himself has not yet been seen at serious golf competitions.
The game that is not so popular in Russia as tennis, recently gains momentum. Therefore, it is possible that in a short time it will be possible to see the southern among the permanent participants of such championships. At the moment, noticeable achievements are only Eugene.
The victories of Cafelnikov are due to his love for "the game on the grass." He became the fourth at the Russian Golf Championship in 2016. Former tennis player is an honorary member, vice-president and a member of the Presidium of the Golf Association of Russia.
Mikhail South Wife
Despite significant achievements in sports, Mikhail lives quite modestly. He is married to Julia Thomas, who met even before he became a tennis star. They got married in 2008. The most sign period in the athlete's career was crucial and happiness in personal life.
A couple to date two children: Maxim and Igor. Perhaps they will go in the footsteps of the Father, but it's too early to talk about it. The family travels a lot together, and Julia is almost always present at the husband's competitions.
It came to the finish of the career. He remained to play only a few tournaments. Time to hide the racket, 36-year-old Muscovite chose the right one.
Value moment
"First of all, I want to say thank you for the excellent atmosphere, it's always pleasant to play here. Now I would like to declare that I complete my career, time came, this is a very exciting moment. I will perform in a series of tennis tournaments in the USA, and after playing in St. Petersburg Petersburg. It will be the last tournament in my career, "said South after the victory in the first round in Atlanta over Emil Renberg.
The rival Russian for the ATP series tournament got very strange. This American is already 21 years old, and it ranks 1032th in the ranking and has never been higher than 836. How such people get Wild Card somewhere except "futures", not very clear. But Michael got this gift, and he accepted it - 6: 2, 6: 0.
This victory has become only the sixth for the South this season at the ATP level at 13 defeats. There were no such modest figures since 2000, when he was only 18 years old. Now he takes the 105th place in the ranking and will definitely not get into the main grid of the US Open Championship. Although, if it takes off with a dozen one and a half people, then the chance will be.
But such a script is extremely unlikely. South will play qualifications. Theoretically, he could apply for Wild Card, after all, he played twice in the semifinal US Open (2006 and 2010) and once in the quarterfinals (2013), but this is unlikely to be enough for the organizers to provide a special invitation to the Russians.
Farewell tours
In fact, Southern did not have success at a high level since 2013. Over the past five years, he only played a large-hat in the third round of the "Large Helmet" tournament - US Open-2016. Basically played the tournaments of the lowest categories of ATP (where he almost did not have wins) or Challengers. Someone will ask: why after the victories in prestigious tournaments, success in the Davis Cup and the 8th place in the ranking for another five years stand up at the turn of the first second hundred? There may be two answers to this question.
The first is love for tennis and this way of life. When you spend almost round year In travels around the world, in hotels and airplanes, then you get used to such a lifestyle that try it just to refuse him. As the boxer always pulls on the ring because of nothing with any comparable adrenaline, and the tennis player almost always wants to play another season. Going at the peak of the form could have managed little to.
The second reason is strongly grew prizes. Finding in the TOP-100 guarantees you participation in four tournaments "Big Helmet" per season. Even if you lose in each of them in the first round, you still earn about 120 thousand dollars. For four players from four. This is the motivation that now does not let go of many veterans on peace.
The last year or two careers came in essence only on the "helmets", took his cache, and disappeared. He did not violate the rules, he just used the ability to earn. Why not?
Fighter of fighters
It's a little offensive that such a player becomes a career as south. What always distinguished Mikhail - he is an incredible fighter. He does not have blows and even Tursunova, but at the expense of hard work and character achieved more than the overwhelming majority of the planet tennis players.
The match was never completed until the opponent of the southern won the last draw. Mikhail always played with passion and mad motivation. Similar compliments can be made not to a large number of tennis players from the southern generation - come to mind, and perhaps another pair of names.
For the last time on the court as a professional player, Mikhail will be seen in St. Petersburg - in the tournament, where he won in 2004 and twice lost in the final (2002, 2010). Together with the South will take the era. Fans will always remember his victory over the Henri Mathieu field in the Davis-2002 Cup final, US Open semi-finals with Andy Radodik and Nadal, fascinating matches with, which, though, have always ended the same - Swiss victories. Southern had an outstanding career, all such.
In St. Petersburg from September 16 to September 23 passes international tennis tournament . For a 36-year famous athlete, the two-time winner of the Davis Mikhail South Cup This will be the last tournament. The former eighth racket of the world decided to complete a professional career. The further Mikhail will be engaged in and with what mood he leaves with a big court, he told St. Petersburg Open 2018.
- In 2000, you first came to this tournament. How do you think how he has changed during this time?
At this stage, the tournament has changed radically: it passes on new arenaIt is convenient that there are two training courts that constantly function. Fantastic central court. If we talk about the ATP 250 series tournaments, here the best organization.
You complete your career, and before the eyes of all the fans, that commemorative match of 2002 in the Davis Cup against the Henri Mathieu Cup. Do you remember when you learned that you would play this decisive meeting?
Rumors went before ... But I found out exactly what I play when I was already kneading before the match. I saw that Yevgeny Kafelnikov came to the court without rackets, then it became clear that I would play. When Marat Safin went to play playing the first point in his match, I was told to sit in the locker room and prepare. Then I already believed that I would play last Match. I was 20 years old, and I was already playing at a professional level. I needed time to prepare and configure myself. It is very difficult to set yourself at the last moment. When I learned that I would play - I had already calmed down, because clarity appeared and immediately began to tune to play.
- You lost 0: 2 by sets. Did you feel that let's drive the team?
There were no such thoughts. Honestly, in 20 years you can not feel it all. Career just begins, and you are full of optimism. Want to think only about what you have all the way ahead. You do not give this value to the Davis Cup, since this is a team tournament. You believe in the team and you can not imagine what you can play, because before that I almost did not play. When you understand that there is nothing to lose, you begin to play better.
- Do you remember that euphoria after the victory?
I remember evrything. Emotions and adrenaline. 40: 0, my feed ... Mathieu is mistaken. Run guys with benches. I was happy, but there was emptiness inside, since there was no father nearby (Dad Mikhail South died a couple of months before the triumph of his son, - Note. Her.). He could not rejoice with me, although I gave all my life for these victories.
- How did your wife react to the fact that you decided to complete your career?
It was not a spontaneous solution. I said that, most likely, you need to finish your career. When was in America, we took the final decision that in St. Petersburg I will play the last tournament. We understood that, firstly, it could not continue forever, but, secondly, when you're already head of the house, but in tournaments, then there can be no result. You can stay at the level, you can go to tournaments, but something global to achieve or win a couple of titles a year is already hard.
- You have two sons. Do you see them in tennis?
I will not answer this question because I do not want my thoughts to affect their decision. If they want to play tennis and there is an opportunity, we play a little. But when they grow up, I think they will be able to accept their decision.
You complete your career. Does this mean that Mikhail South will now truly play the role of a father who will do lessons with children, drive them to school?
And before the full role of the Father was not? (laughs). I am pleased to appear to the school of children, but it is necessarily connected with early lifts. But if I wanted to seek some results, I should not have done it, as I needed to be saturated. Now the priorities changed - from now on I will be happy to deal with this and, probably, this is one of the main reasons, because of which I understood, it's time to complete my career. Now no children have to adapt to my life, and I have to adapt to the life of children. And so has already passed a lot of time. Maxim will be 9 years old. The whole family has long adjusted to my personal schedule. If such a regime continued to continue, then they would not have such a life that I wish them.
Do you have such a stage now, when you need to answer yourself, is there any life after tennis? What Mikhail South Thinks to do?
There is a life, and it is very interesting. The career stage was practically ended. I am only 36 years old. Not really new life Begins, just there are new interests. I even think of doing something about tennis. Someday it will happen, but not so fast. At this stage, I stay in tennis and there are projects that I want to implement. Since 2010, I cooperate with the tennis school in Novokuznetsk, this is the first tennis center in the city. It so happened that I stood at the origins of this tennis center and all the children who came there are already playing at a good level. Now we will go to a more professional work. I will not come for 5 days at the end of the year when I had time. Now I will try to adapt to the chart of the guys, under their fees and tournaments. We also work with the Tennis Academy in Australia. There is a wonderful tennis center and a huge plus that there are 365 days a year shines the sun, so it is convenient to train. There is another children's project, which is now starting to implement - this is prevention of injuries. There are few people think about it - especially in childhood. This project is aimed at all types. children's sport. We know how many athletes cannot be at high levels only because of the state of health. Unfortunately, many are faced with this when it's too late to fix something. I'm pushing out my experience - I personally had such a need for 2005, and the technique for which I did, helped me play up to 36 years without injury.
Southern Mikhail Mikhailovich - Russian tennis player, two-time winner of the Davis Cup. Sports experts celebrate the player a unique strike on the left, which is performed in the original way alone right hand. M. Southern - a very emotional player. In one of the fights against Nicholas Almagro, the audience could see how a Russian racket broke himself about his head, which, however, helped him reversal the course of the meeting.
early years
As soon as the little Misha turned six years old, he picked up a racket and no longer wanted to release it. From the young age to date, Mikhail trains the same person - Boris Sobin.
Southern successfully performed on junior tournaments. In 1999, he even reached the final of the Australian Open Championship. But in the decisive confrontation, the defeat from Dane Kristiana Plesa was defeated. Thanks to persistence and hard work, the Russian tennis player entered the TOP 20 juniors and began performances at a professional level. In the autumn of 1999, Mikhail South wins his first finals in small tournaments, and at the Kremlin Cup he managed to break into the main grid.
The Russian, as if on the bitches, improves its skills. At first he wins the fights on the challengers, and then on large tournaments. Tennis player South Michael has become a real discovery of the Davis Cup 2000, and some time later, without losing not a single set, he reached the final tournament ATP. In Sherbur-Oktievil, where, alas, without a chance he lost to Julien Boutte.
Career development
In the early 2000s, M. South has already steadily performed at the Tournaments of the Grand Slam series, passing two to three rounds in the main grid. Russian tennis player stepped on a new step for himself and his debut in the Masters series, beat several strong athletes at the tournament at the Monte Carlo.
The Cup of St. Petersburg has become another tournament, in the final of which Mikhail South. Tennis - to a certain extent a game with fortune, because the decisive duel was played again. This time - the Frenchman Sebastian Groshan. Ironically, Mikhail was rehabilitated again at the Davis Cup, where the athlete successfully replaced the legend of Russian tennis Evgenia Kafelnikov.
Successful for the South was the 2003 season. Then Michael first entered the ranking of fifty the best tennis players in the world, after which she continued to rise up in a personal event. Since 2003, Russia is connected yet interesting fact Careers - He for the first time during the speeches at the professional level takes part in all the main rounds of the Large Helmet series, as well as the Masters series. Particularly successfully for him there were performances on the courts of Australia, where he beat one of the recognized leaders big tennis - Czech, Iří Novaka. In tournaments, the South Status and at all three times reached the semifinals, which the Olympics had allowed the player to rise in the Top 20 APR. 2005 was marked by the first victory of the southern in the paired discharge - along with Belarus Maxim Mirny, he became the Kremlin Cup triumph.
At the peak
A successful period for Career Mikhail South was 2006-2007. During this time, he managed to get to the quarterfinals of the open tournament in the United States, at the same time the second racket of the world of Rafael Nadal. Especially well, Russians were in pair discharge. In Tandem with the Czech Leosh Friedle, the Favorites of the Tournament - Brothers Brothers, after which he lost only to the future pair of winner. At the tournaments of a large hat, Mikhail won nine incredible victories, and the Masters series comes to the quarterfinal in Paris.
The 2008 season spent at the same level. The Russian athlete won several major victories in small tournaments. In pair competitions again followed progress. In the way open Championship Australia was beating a couple of Davydenko - Nadal, and Mikhail Southern himself took the highest eighth place in the men's world ranking.
New records
Successful for Russian tennis player was 2010. In the tournaments of a big hat, he managed to win as many as twelve victories, and on American Courts US Open for the second time in his career reached the semifinal duel. The highlight of the season for the southern was the victory over the second racket of the world Novakak Djokovich in the tournament in Rotterdam. At the end of the year, Mikhail returned a place in the top 30 of the strongest tennis players of the planet.
Recession and Career Completion
At the thirty-year-old age russian athlete Made, it seemed impossible, having won a number of important victories and returning a place in the first ten rating. However, this success was local and, unfortunately, the last. After winning the Spaniard of David Ferrer Final in Valencia, Mikhail South sharply slowed down. On the eve of each next tournament with his participation, it was necessary to state the banal unaware of tennis player to the game at a high level. Short-term local successes were increasingly replaced by protracted series of lesions. And in 2015, the Russian was no longer part of the top 100 world ranking. After graduation, Mikhail decided to complete the professional career.
In the Russian national team
The debut of M. South for the national team took place at the age of 17. During the next 15 seasons, the tennis player did not miss a single tournament with the participation of Russians. In total, Mikhail held 38 fights (including pairs), won 21 victory.
Personal life
Mikhail South Chief Personal Fan is a tennis player's wife, Julia. The pair legalized her relationship in November 2008. Spouses raise two sons - Maxim and Igor. Mikhail's brother, Andrei South, at one time also tried herself as a professional player, but later decided to concentrate on coaching activities.