Aslan Kratzb is the sensation of the Australian Open. The Russian, who was born in Israel, was ranked 144th before the tournament opened, and still managed to qualify for the quarterfinals of the tournament in Melbourne. Whoever is marked as one of the great misses of tennis in Israel found time to talk today (Sunday) with an open field and addressed the departure from the homeland, expectations in the tournament and the future.
“I’m very happy. I prepared for the qualifiers every December and then I passed them,” “Asi” began in Hebrew, “This is the most amazing month of my career. I am very happy with the results and how I play.”
At 27, Kratzb broke out for the first time in his career and after no one had marked him before: “I had a serious injury. I had a lot of ups and downs in my career. I went through coaches and it took me a while to get here today. Did I believe? Age doesn’t really matter, I always believed.”
In the next round Kratzev will meet Gregor Dmitrov, and Kratzev remains with his feet on the ground: “I do not think too much progress. I have earned here an amount which is almost like what I have earned all my career.”
Kratzev was supposed to be a player for the Israeli national team, but a series of events caused him to travel to Russia. “I am always happy to be in Israel. My mother and sister live in Israel,” he explained. “If there was financial support, I might not have left Israel. I liked to train and live in Israel, but it was difficult financially. In Russia I found a sponsor and because of funding I went to represent Russia.” .
Could it be that you left Israel because of your father’s involvement?
“My father would drive me to training and come with me to training, he was always with me. He really cared who would believe, he was very involved and expressed his position. It could have angered people, but he was there by my side.”
Who were the coaches who accompanied you on a daily basis in Israel?
“I moved between coaches in Jaffa. I was treated very well in Jaffa and I was satisfied. Then I decided to move to train briefly at Yad Eliyahu and then I trained at Wingate in seventh grade and later I left the country.”
Is it true that Amir Weintraub approached you to represent Israel on the Davis team?
“It’s true, they approached me and talked to me, but it’s irrelevant. To get through I have to accept something I do not get elsewhere, I do not think it is relevant now. When you are down, no one refers to you, now the situation has changed.”
