ATP Interview / Courtesy of Scoop Malinowski, tennis-prose.com / 27.06.2011

Poland's Lukasz Kubot reveals his favourite meal, funniest tennis memory and the last book he read in this biofile...

First Tennis Memory: “With my friend and my parents to the tennis courts. That’s the first thing I remember from tennis.”

Tennis Inspirations: “Well, when I was younger, my father was a soccer player, so I was playing soccer. And tennis. And when I became 15 I decided to play more tennis. My inspirations were Kafelnikov, Edberg and Bjorkman.”

Last Book Read: “The Alchemist by Coelho.”

Favourite Movies: “I grew up with Rocky movies. Over The Top with Sylvester Stallone [smiles].”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “Soccer, basketball, a lot of sports. And if there’s time, going to the beach.”

Favourite Meal: “Tomato soup from my mom.”

Favourite Ice Cream Flavor: “No ice cream.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “Exciting. Looking forward to the match. Pumping up, for sure. Just staying focused.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Just that I was born and that I have a life [smiles]. But…that I’m doing in my life what I’m doing and I’m enjoying the life with it.”

Most Painful Moment: “Always when you’re having injuries.”

Favourite Tournaments: “Let’s say Acapulco and Belgrade.”

Current Car: “Audi A6.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “Oliver Marach and Mariusz Fyrstenberg.”

Funniest Players Encountered: “Dmitry Tursunov.”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “I had the worst feeling against Jiri Vanek of Czech Republic, but I made it through, I beat him once. And Davydenko.”

Strangest Match: “6-0 against the Bryans [in 2009] in Cincinnati.” (Editor's note: The Bryans came back for a 0-6, 6-4, 10-4 win over Kubot-Marach.)

Funny Tennis Memory: “Funny was once I played with Oliver in doubles. And I hit him with my serve to the head. And the ball didn’t go left or right – it went 20 meters straight up. Fell down and the ball fell down and hit him again. And we were playing French guys in the Challenger. It was at the end of 2005, the Challenger in Doha. After, it was the ATP tournament. And the first question that I asked Oliver, Man, sorry, are you okay? And his answer was like, Man, I want to win [smiles]. So I had a second serve after and I couldn’t stop laughing. So I was laughing. I got a time violation from the referee. And I hit the second serve directly to the fans with my frame [smiles]. So that was probably the funniest.(Win?) We win the match. We won the tournament with a wildcard. And we played semifinal in Doha tournament, which actually started the doubles career.”

Favourite Players To Watch: “Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “That they are staying on the ground. And when somebody goes on the court, that they try to give the best. And I like those kinds of players that are mixing and coming to the net, playing aggressive. So I like those kinds of players.”