An interview with Dinara and her mother, who also shows a little bit about their family life and values. Truly worth reading.
http://prosportmagazine.ru/catalog/2009/123/282.html
Below is the translation done by AnnieNik from MTF:
A daughter of her mother
Dinara Safina does not want to be a blond anymore. Just before climbing the top of Sony Ericsson WTA Tour rakingand her birthday, she became a dark-chocolate brunette. “That is nature’s mistake, says Dinara, - as a matter of fact, the way I feel inside, my character is not of a blond. With the new color I feel more natural and free. Now I can joke – I can pat a blond on her shoulder, caress her head and say “What are you, a blond?”
Dinara says that the sense of humor and the love to jokes is hereditary, from her dad. Her sensitivity and vulnerability – from her mom.
- As a matter of fact, mom is very gentle and vulnerable – talks Dinara.
Probably that is the reason the Safin family is badly trying to avoid publicity. Even the most famous Safin, Marat, is present in the press mostly in the describing genre and very rarely gives interviews.
- We are not movie stars, we are regular people – talks about the family Dinara and Marat Safin’s mom, the famous coach Rausa Islanova, - we would like to have a regular life.
According to Rausa Islanova due to increased attention, they mostly receive the ugly bits of people’s nature – envy and curiosity.
- We remained the same people as before, - says Rausa, - Our life didn’t change significantly. Yes, we are driving better cars. When I go to a beauty salon for a manicure people recognize me and say ‘But what are you doing?! We should have said from the beginning ‘Give me the best master!’ ‘ – this is bothering me. I do not want to disturb the best master, I just want to receive a good service without attracting attention.
Once, answering the question “What’s your biggest secret?” on her official site, Dinara said girly “What am I like outside the court.” Dinara does not intend to show her side outside the court, though. Firstly, there is no time. Secondly “I dislike the interviews, sometimes they ask those stupid questions”, sincerely answers Dinara. Thirdly, Dinara’s dad, Michail Alexeevich doesn’t approve of magazine photo sessions – probably, that is how he protects his beautiful daughter from stardom disease.
The beautiful daughter ran in to our meeting in a cafeteria, located in a quite Moscow downtown, almost barefoot. Dinara made a pedicure and to protect the nail polish, she sprang out of home in one-time slippers.
- It’s good to live in downtown. Where else in Moscow could you run on the street? And here there is cafeterias, restaurants, shops – everything is within reach in a short walk – cheers Dinara.
Answering the question, who does she need to be happy, she spreads her hands wide: that’s the people, they are all here. Literally. The father just called – he cannot find the car keys. Mom looked in the cafe, gave us a controlling look: “OK, you talk”. The brother lives a neighbor district.
Dinara leaves her cell phone on the table and starts searching for a decaf coffee in the menu. I am looking at her fingers, painted with the same nail polish, as her toes. Dinara has big proportional palms with surprisingly long fingers. They are beautiful and unique, they look like ones of a piano player. Dinara catches my look, kind of embarrasses and explains:
- When I play, I do not make manicure. I’d be thinking not to break a nail on court. Before entering the locker room I take out everything from the beauty case. I like to go out in full parade. I wear perfumes, definitely. I like very much the gentle, sweet smells. Like caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate . My favorite for the moment is Chanel, Chance.
- Before a match – continues Dinara – I take off only the watch – it’s big. I never take off the accessories.
It turns out that all those gentle knick knacks - a bracelet with small brilliant charm, small ear rings – are gifts from her parents.
I remember a story from Elena Vesnina’s blog. Vesnina and Safina were playing a double. At some point Elena said: “If we win, I will definitely buy myself a Louis Vuitton bag!” The tennis God has heard her prayer and the girls won the match. Vesnina, though, was ready to forget her promise. But it was no way – Dinara didn’t let her forget. Vesnina had to buy a Louis Vuitton clutch.
- Well, yes, there was such story – confirms Safina with no big enthusiasm. – I like Louis Vuitton’s purses. I have few travelling ones and a funny one – with cherries.
In tennis world Dinara Safina is friends with Vesnina and Svetlana Kuznetsova. Sometimes they have dinner at tournaments and go shopping. In Monaco Dinara keeps in touch with her neighbor Elena Isinbaeva.
- We met in Moscow on Olympics party. Later I was in Monaco, in a Carrefour supermarket, and saw a friendly face. While I was thinking, is this Lena or not, she came herself to me. Now from time to time we meet and talk. It is nice that such a big star like Lena, appeared to be a good-minding and nice girl.
- Basically my friends are not athletes – tells Dinara – they are people I meet in my regular life. When I come to Moscow, we hang out.
- When tennis becomes too much, I come home and lie on the coach. I adore watching the old soviet cartoons. They are so amazing, good and fairy stories, that there are no such in the world anymore! You see them and immediately you feel better.
- In Moscow little by little I begin coming back to myself, I go out with friends in clubs, movie theaters, restaurants. I like the Moscow restaurants – very beautiful and delicious food. Sometimes I go to the movie theaters and watch our movies. I liked “Love in a big city” with Lesha Chadov (spelling??). Mostly I download movies and watch them in English. I have watched “Changelling” with Angelina Jolie - it was scary and cruel, but you cannot get away.
- I understand that work is a great thing, but there are tough moments, when there are no results or the mood is sinking – then it is necessary to be patient and force yourself. For such moments the Moscow time-outs are very needed, explains Dinara’s mom Rausa Islanova. – The main phrase that I keep telling my daughter is “Dinara! You have to be patient!”
Dinara herself says in her interviews that she has two anti-crisis methods that always work. First one: after the match call mom right away. Second one: wait for a while, and then call mom.
- I mostly try to support my daughter emotionally, to create a calm atmosphere – says Rausa Mouhamejanova. – This is important: go to the beautician, to a spa, take a massage, go to your friends, in the movie theater. Everything that I wanted to do for my daughter in the tennis world, I did. Now I am calm. Dinara has two permanent coaches. There was a difficult period for us, when Dinara parted with Glenn (Glenn Shap – Dinara’s former coach). I advised her to hire a young coach, but Dinara consulted with Marat and decided to hire the trendiest one. Of course, one could understand her. No one is insured from mistakes like this one. For example I had this fix idea: I dreamed of going to Nick Bolletieri’s academy. We really went there, trained a little – what a bad disappointment that was! That’s how it turned out for Dinara too. It was important for her to keep her stand, and take the decision by herself. In four months, she realized that she made a mistake. That is why, now her team is complete. She hired a young coach, they understand each other, and work is flowing easily. Dinara told me “Now, are you calm?” Indeed, now I am calm.
Dinara says that recently in the family there is unwritten rule: in the rare moments they gather in their parents home, they do not speak about tennis.
- Everybody at home is a professional, everybody has a point of view and understanding – wrinkles her forehead Dinara, - I have mine, Marat has one, mom has one, dad has one. That is why their advises do not match me. For example Federed never warms up. Marat also thinks that putting effort on a warm-up is pointless. Nevertheless, I need a warm-up, even if it’s just 40 mins. This is important for me.
Basically there are many causes for misunderstanding. Like grown up kids, Dinara protects her right to have a private space.
- Enough living with my parents! – says she. – My stuff can’t be packed in the apartment anymore. Soon I will run down. Now I am finishing the reconstruction works in my apartment. It is very close. I have no time to do this myself, that’s why my parents supervise the works. The apartment is done by the same designer that did their apartment. Once my dad called me and says: “Why do you want black floors? This is not practical!” I do not like white floors, as in my parents, I like black floors. But you cannot explain this to your parents!
- We were together for so long, - agrees Rausa, - that now Dinara wants to be a little bit independent. I do not disagree. Sometimes mom should be there, not just to command, but also to give advice. That is why, now we discuss neutral topics. For example, Dinara started cooking. She downloads recipes from internet, calls me and tells me how she burnt the meat. Or we go shopping together.
Rausa Islanova proudly shows the necklace, she is wearing – it’s a gift from Dinara. Her daughter won on a Doha tournament and gave it to her mother. Dinara knew that Rausa will appreciate it.
- What I remember from my childhood – recalls Dinara – mom always dressed herself beautifully and elegantly. She has a good taste. We understand each other without words. Yes-yes, no-no, goes-doesn’t go. I go shopping on two occasions: to distract myself, when a cat is scratching my soul, or on the contrary, when I have to celebrate something. It happens that sometimes I watch around for few hours and do not buy anything. It happens that within 5 minutes, without trying on, I know it’ll suit me. For example, I never bring with me a dress on tournament. It’s easier to go buy something for the party few hours before, than to bring it from Moscow. I am superstitious about it. If there is something to be celebrated, there is no problem to find a dress.
According to her mom, Safina Junior didn’t inherit her taste:
- Dinara prefers the classics. Her choice has always been very rational. That’s how she was raised. When my daughter was little and I go abroad, I explained to her, that I cannot afford to buy the exact thing she wants. Or that I can afford just one thing. We didn’t bathe in luxury, but the kids had everything. Even when we had more opportunities, when Marat started supporting the family, when he paid off to Dinara’s sponsor, we tried not to throw money away in vain. We could afford anything, but we chose more modest options. Otherwise what would that be – Marat will play, and we will blow?
- Is it easier to raise a daughter, than the son?
- I had no difficulties, neither with the first, nor with the second kid. Both were easy. I am very strict mom. I am strict to everyone – with my kids, and with my students. On the practice sessions I told my kids: you are the same, as everyone else. They even called me by first-second name. They understood: on court - I am a coach, at home- I am mama. It’s one thing to be unjustified strict, and another is when you demand the correct doing of the exercises, school lessons – that’s normal. Such strictness is justified. For example, I told Marat that he has to study the way, so that I wouldn’t be called in school. It would not be pretty if his tall mom is standing and embarrassing herself in front of the teacher. I literally brought Dinara to court, since her birth. In her early childhood she got sick. The doctors set wrong diagnose and the girl weakened. I decided: what could be healthier than air, sunshine and water? I brought the kids to the seaside (the doctors weren’t allowing it) and took my time with them. When we stated going to the stadium together, Dinara’s first task was to learn how to tie the shoestrings by herself. That stimulated her. When she was two and a half she packed the little practice backpack by herself, changed herself and tied her shoestrings. Once I showed her what was necessary for a practice, and that was enough. The practice sessions went on like that: I ran to the stadium, led the group, later Ieft Dinara on court and ran to the school to pick up Marat. After that we came back. I was training kids (in my group were Myskina and Dementieva), and Dinara was running next to us with a jumping rope. Later I sent her a group with another coach. Of course, my daughter, wanted attention. I could pay attention to her only in the breaks, though. That’s why Dinara was doing everything, so that I could start work with her at first, so that I would be in good mood, so that there would be no one next to us, and so that all my attention would be for her. There was a competition, because she had to show herself better than the others, so that they would praise her and give her as an example. The best stimulus for Dinara was the praise.
- With me one mustn’t be hard, - says Dinara, - one must be gentle. Mom is feeling sorry for myself and caresses my head. If the gentle approach doesn’t work, she simply says: ”Be patient!”. The patience is her motto.
Today, the mother of two first rackets in the worlds confirms that her kids never compete for parents’ attention. Family Safin managed to escape from child jealousy.
- Probably the reason is – thinks Rausa Islanova, - that I was the eighth kid in the family. My dad passed away, when I was five. Literally I raised myself on the stadium. That was the reason I reconsidered 100 times before getting married and have kids of my own. I understood well, how important is the family warmth and the parent love. I got married in a conscious, adult age to a person, who indeed became my hope and my rock. When I had the kids, I realized that I could rely on myself and my family only. Nobody will help us. That is why, both parents and kids decided to share the domestic chores. I cooked and did the laundry; the father was steaming the clothes. There was no need to beg anyone. The kids greatly dealt with vacuuming, peeling potatoes, shopping for groceries, waiting in lines. Both were very accurate. Even now, when Marat comes to visit, he brings his cup back to the kitchen, and puts it in the sink. I tell him: ” Please, leave it, it is nice to take care of you”. But this habit is already in his blood. I am the head of the family. The father is softer. One could go to him to complain, to cry, and to put head on his shoulder. Not always is the mama right. Mom could be harsh. That’s when the father comes in. Sometimes he takes kids’ side, sometimes mine. Parents are parents, and at our age is hard to change.
Dinara Safina assures us that she never used the advantages of the younger kid and even didn’t realize them. She doesn’t remember to have had specific rights as a younger one. She didn’t even ask for a younger brother or a sister.
- That is why, now when I go to my parents, I am thinking: it would be so great, if at home was a youngster! I ask my mom and dad: “But why you didn’t have a third child?” They agree: yes, indeed, it is pity we didn’t have. It would be so great, to have three kids in a family.
– I even hinted on Marat, that I am ready to become a granny – smiles Rausa Muhamejanova. – Do you know what he replied? “Don’t lower your price!” Probably he meant that kids should be taken care of by nannies. Although we are ready to deal with kids, we still could teach a lot. Sometimes I have the desire to start a group with young kids. But I have my hands full. My eldest sister is 82 years old, my father-in-law, Dinara’s and Marat’s dad, is 92. They need help. Recently we invited the granddad as our guest and Marat drove to pick him up on a Mercedes. I was afraid that they would speed and the grandfather will get scared. But no, the grandfather liked to ride with Marat a lot. At home Dinara was welcoming him. She specifically went to the patisserie to buy sweets. When the grandfather saw Dinara, he started crying.
Rausa Islanova says that she is a happy woman. All her dreams came true. Her dreams were her kids.
- I would like to wish all parents to have such kids, as mine. We have put a lot of effort in raising them. Since they were young I taught them: every person is rich in their own way. Everybody deserves attention and respect. You make up in the morning and you should start thinking not about yourself, but also about others. We are not selfish. We would like to be warm around us.
Dinara Safina thinks that she misses only love for the full happiness.
- Of course, I would like romance! Sometimes it is lonely and sad. But I understand: while I am playing, there is no time to find a boyfriend.
Now Dinara thinks about charity:
- I would like to do something nice for small kids. I think that it would be moral burden for me to visit kids in hospitals. Together with my agent, we decided that it would be better to visit kids in orphanages.
That was the sentence in the whole interview that confirms: Dinara – a real superstar.
