The Nicolas Massu Interview

If you would like to get to know Nicolas Massu a little bit better here is your chance...
Scoop Malinowski caught up with Massu recently for this Biofile interview.

Height/Weight: 6-feet, 177 pounds.

Born On: October 10, 1977 in Vina del Mar, Chile.

Childhood Hero: "Rocky the movie [smiles]."

Tennis Inspirations: "When I start when I was younger — Boris Becker and Muster. Those were my two."

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: "I like to play soccer. To be with my friends, go out with my friends."

Nicknames: Nico, Vampiro.

Favorite Movies: "Gladiator."

Favorite TV Show: "The Simpsons is my favorite."

Musical Tastes: "Spanish music, Ricky Martin."

Early Tennis Memory: "The first time that I passed the top 100 in 1999. After winning Challenger in Santiago in November '99. Was doing good in Challengers, I won three Challengers. Then when I won my first ATP tournament in Buenos Aires (2002), I saved match points (in final against Calleri)."

Pre-Match Feeling: "All are different. Sometimes you're nervous, sometimes not. Sometimes you are more confident, sometimes without confidence. Normally, a little bit nervous but not too much. Just depends on when I go out on the court to play."

Favorite Meal: "Pizza."

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: "Everything."

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: "Vanilla."

First Job: "Tennis."

First Car: "'Chevrolet convertible, black. '96, I have it in '99."

Greatest Sports Moment: "Now I think August 2004, champion of Olympics in singles and doubles. And also carried my countries flag at 2000 Olympics (when Marcelo Rios did not show up).""

Most Painful Moment: "I think when we lost some important Davis Cup — Zimbabwe, India, Slovakia, Russia, Israel, Croatia. (Massu's overall Davis Cup record is 29-17 including 17-4 on clay.)"

Funny Tennis Memory: "Just not in singles, when I play doubles I have a lot of good memories."

Closest Tennis Friends: "Marcelo Rios and Fernando Gonzalez, some Argentine and some Spanish players."

Funniest Players Encountered: "Fernando Vicente. He's funny and a good person."

Toughest Competitors: "Federer, Nadal, Hewitt, Agassi, Ferrero."

Favorite Vacation Spot: "Cancun."

Favorite Athletes To Watch: "I think Mike Tyson when he was young. Because I think he was a good competitor. And he was the best in the world. He had a lot of confidence. Michael Jordan. I read one time a book of him, I like it. My favorite soccer team is Everton from Vina del Mar. (Tennis?) I don't have any one now. You don't have idols when you play because you play against all these guys. I don't have idols."

People Qualities Most Admired: "Good, friendly people. Good person. And respect, you know?"