The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour website told it : players at the ASB Classic will have to be on the look-out yet again for the charismatic and comedic James McOnie, who will be seeking them out in the hopes of more (slightly) unconventional interviews. James McOnie is a man of multiple talents and already features prominently on TV, on such shows as The Crowd Goes Wild, as well as on Bsport radio.
James McOnie accepted to write few words about Maria for her official website, MariaKirilenko.com.
« The return of Maria Kirilenko to the ASB Classic in Auckland is exciting for the New Zealand sports media… and not just because she’s the hottest thing to come out of Russia since Sputnik 10 or the radiator of a 1983 Lada.
It’s also because Kirilenko is one of the most easy-going players on the tour and in New Zealand easy-going is a revered quality.
You can win the Wimbledon, triple Olympic gold, Miss Universe or the Nobel Peace Prize, but if New Zealanders really respect you if you do that and you’re easy-going as well.
But what confounds me, and others around this tournament, is how did Kirilenko become a beautiful, successful woman who is extremely pleasant, easy-going and shy. Where is the diva? Where is the self-centered princess? Where are the tantrums? It’s not the Kirilenko way.
In the past year, Sports Illustrated chose her as a swimsuit model, adidas has singled her out for a new global ad campaign and readers of Canadian website sportsnet.ca voted her the fourth hottest female athlete in the world. I’m betting she’s a bit embarrassed by all the fuss and attention.
New Zealanders love that too. Round these parts, Kirilenko stands out as the anti-diva; as the player who was happy to quietly find her own way to the media workroom to give an interview to a journalist who missed the press conference.
I wasn’t that journalist but I was there. And when I got to interview her, it was pretty good and low-stress, which is a huge compliment in my country. Of course the camera loved her, but it was unrequited love. Kirilenko was too modest for that kind of carry on.
This year, I’m hoping Maria will agree to a fashion runway walk-off. Check out www.asbclassic.co.nz for the results. If it doesn’t happen, I blame shyness and the fact that she’s here to play tennis. »
James McOnie
Remember his interview with Maria two years ago
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6 users responded in this post
i really agree that Maria is not a diva or something. she is so natural and nice, and that’s why we love her.
Sputnik 10 or radiator for Lada from 1983?????? (no comment). I think that she is beautiful lady.(thats enough)
Spunik 10 or radiator for Lada from 1983 (its look like kiborg) God save the queen.
First saw Masha when she was 16 years old, she turns 23 in three weeks. Through all of Masha’s tennis ups and downs over the years, there is a reason she has so many loyal, long term fans. It is because we care about Masha as a person while we cheer for Masha the tennis player. It is a rare person who combines: being a world class athlete, a humble nature, a friend to many who meet her, intelligent and thoughtful, has broad appreciation for the arts, a love for her Mother country and parents… and, by the way, she is stunningly beautiful. Those that stare at Masha’s Si Swimsuit photos and only see her as being high up on the list of “hot” women are not seeing the total picture as to what a special person Masha is.
This is become blog forum. I love that (I love Maria Kirilenko too)
I couldn’t agree more.
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