5 Minutes with… Svetlana Kuznetsova

Posted on March 11, 2013 by BNP Paribas Open    

By Nicholas McCarvel

Svetlana Kuznetsova is a two-time major champion and 2008 BNP Paribas Open finalist. On Saturday, the Russian took down 2010 winner Jelena Jankovic in a valiant effort, winning 0-6, 6-2, 7-5. She sat down with us after the win for a few laughs and to answer some of our quirky questions. Sunday night she faces Marion Bartoli in a third round showdown.

BNP Paribas Open: Hey Sveta. Good win! We’re curious to know: How many shoes do you go through in a year?

Svetlana Kuznetsova: Depends. One year I remember I had over 100. But now I use definitely less. Maybe 50.

BNPPO: Wow. That’s a lot of shoes. You also travel a lot, so when you’re flying, do you prefer the aisle or window seat?

Kuznetsova: I like the window because you can lean on it and sleep. Yeah. And nobody bothers you. Perfect.

BNPPO: What is your favorite thing to do in Indian Wells while here for the BNP Paribas Open?

Kuznetsova: To win. [Laughing.] And… I like to go eat sushi. I go normally to a sushi restaurant here, where I’m friends with the owner.

BNPPO: What would be ultimate celebration for winning another Grand Slam for you?Kuznetsova: Buying something very, very good… Like a house or something. I don’t love to travel, so if I can stay at home, that is preferred. So I think I would get a good house, in Los Angeles or something. I have a good apartment in Moscow so I’m fine there. But I heard LA is very good. I’m not sure what… But to have a house in LA, I would like that.

BNPPO: Perfect indeed. If you could choose any celebrity to be your doubles partner, who would it be?

Kuznetsova: I don’t know. I’ve had very good partners, so I can’t complain. But if it wasn’t just tennis players, I would pick Rihanna, of course. Or 50 Cent. I love 50 Cent. [Laughs.]

BNPPO: Nice choices! Hilarious. What is your secret to telling the Bryan brothers apart?

Kuznetsova: Why? They are so good together…

BNPPO: No, no… I mean how do you tell who is Mike and who is Bob when you see them…

Kuznetsova: [Laughing.] Oh! I can’t. [Smiling.] I’m not so close to them so I just say hi and smile at everybody.

BNPPO: Name three things you can’t live without.

Kuznetsova: My family and my friends and my dog, Dolce… that’s one! My music and my electronics – computers, headphones. And three would be my home in Moscow.

BNPPO: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Kuznetsova: To fly over the time. Not time, but just not have to use flights. So I don’t have to come to the tournament 12 hours or 20 hours. I’m just there. [Snaps.]

BNPPO: You’d save a lot of hours that way! Good luck, Sveta.