TIKHOMIROVA: “In the final the forces were running out”

March 3, 2020
9:13 pm
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Russian National Championships: Anna TIKHOMIROVA and Lev KATSMAN are the crowned champions

Anna TIKHOMIROVA and Lev KATSMAN are the crowned champions of Russia at the championships concluded last Sunday in Moscow. They beat in the finals Margarita FETYUKHINA and Alexander TYUTRYUMOV respectively. Sadi ISMAILOV and Taras MERZLIKIN are the bronze medalist in the Men’s Singles event while Anna RYAZANOVA and Valeriya KOTSYUR completed podium in the Women’s Singles.

Three-time champion of Russia Anna TIKHOMIROVA told ttfr.ru how after a long break she was preparing for the singles competitions of the country’s championship in Moscow and how she relates to her husband’s advice during the game.

– You have not played in the personal competitions of the Russian Championship for two years you have returned and immediately won the gold. How did you prepare in a special way?

– I didn’t prepare specifically for singles: training according to plan training in the Moscow team. Nothing new. And it so happened that in team competitions she had too few meetings to feel game confidence. Therefore she considered participation in singles as preparation for games in the FNTR team championship which starts in a week (TIKHOMIROVA stands for Sparta & K club from the city of Vidnoe near Moscow – approx. Ed.).

– The match for gold was a repeat of the recent final of the Moscow championship where you beat MargaritaFETYUKHINA – 4: 3. Was there any thought that this time there was a great chance of victory?

– No I only felt that my strength was running out and that a very difficult match was ahead.

– Outwardly it was not noticeable. Sometimes it seems like you don’t have any nerves at all.

– This is not so at all (smiles). Of course there is excitement inside.

– In singles your husband Igor RUBTSOV was your coach (RUBTSOV was a well-known Russian tennis player in the past and now he is the coach of the Moscow men’s team. – Ed.). Did this help soothe?

– If you prompted me well it was calming but if I thought that I prompted me wrongly it’s quite the opposite (laughs).

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