From TennisWeek
Biofile: The Hicham Arazi Interview
By Scoop Malinowski
02/24/2003
Regardless of where he resides in the rankings, Hicham Arazi remains a fan
favorite. The Moroccan magician's mesmerizing style of play has made several
big-name opponents disappear in defeat over the course of his 11-year career
that has seen him net nearly $3 million in prize money.
Fluent in five languages, Arazi is even more expressive on the court where he
often lays his emotions on the line.
In this interview, the 29-year-old Arazi tellsTennis Week about the the highs
(reaching the Roland Garros quarterfinals) and the lows (blowing a two-set, 3-2
lead to defending champion Patrick Rafter in the opening round of the U.S.
Open) of his career and recounts one of his most memorable matches — in which
his 55-year-old father Mohamed took on his Davis Cup teammate and longtime
friend Younes El Aynaoui.
Status: Finished the 2002 season ranked 89th in the world. So far this year,
he has fallen out of the top 100 for the first time since 1995. Arazi
has won one career ATP Tour singles title at Casablanca in 1997. He
holds career wins over Andre Agassi, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Tim Henman
and Lleyton Hewitt.
Height: 5-foot-9 Weight: 143 pounds.
Born On: October 19th , 1973 in Casablanca, Morocco.
Childhood Heroes: "Jimmy Connors. I liked the way he played very much. He was a
good fighter and a showman."
Nickname: "Laraz. From the Moroccan Davis Cup team, Karim Alami, Younes El
Aynaoui."
Hobbies/Interests: "When I'm out of tennis, I like water skiing. All the
activities on the water, jet skiing, surfing. And motor
bikes."
Early Tennis Memory: "When I was 10-years old, with my dad (Mohamed). I lost
the close match and I was crying. He picked me up and he
went to buy me some lollies, boom booms (laughs). It was
nice for me."
Childhood Dreams: "I am doing what I always wanted to do. And to go as far as I
can in this sport. I would love to win the French Open. My
dad was a tennis coach himself in France. He still is. The
times when he had lessons, I was going with him and I was
playing on the side with the wall."
Pre-Match Feeling: "I feel good. Sometimes real relaxed, but I lose. Sometimes
I feel more nervous and sometimes I win, sometimes I lose.
The night before, yeah, yeah, sometimes I visualize when I'm
in my bed. There's a flash of a great shot (laughs)."
Favorite Movies: "The City Avenger, Silence of the Lambs."
Musical Tastes: "Reggae, funky music, Ragamuffin."
Favorite Meal: "Cous cous. Moroccan dish."
Favorite Breakfast Cereal: "I eat everything, but I can't give you a name."
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor(s): "Strawberry and passion fruit. Vanilla."
First Job: "Tennis."
First Car: "Red Talbot Samba."
Greatest Sports Moment: "When I qualified for quarterfinals at French Open in
1997. And defeating Marcelo Rios. The best moment that
I ever had in tennis."
Most Painful Moment: "There is many. Against Rafter, first round at U.S. Open
in 1998. Winning the first two sets and 3-2 with two break
points. And I lose the match."
Closest Tennis Friends: "Alami, El Aynaoui."
Toughest Competitors: "Sampras. I lost in the 4th round in Australia in 1998,
7-6, 6-4, 6-4. It was close. I was playing good. But he
was tough. Agassi. I watch him on TV. He looks tough.
Magnus Norman. I've already lost to him four times
(laughs)! He's a guy that I don't like to play."
Favorite Athletes To Watch: "Track and field athletes. Said Aouita. Sampras.
Agassi. Marcelo Rios. My friends Alami and El
Aynaoui. Evander Holyfield. Lennox Lewis. Ziddane.
Gabriela Sabatini."
Funny Tennis Memory: "When I saw my father playing with Younes El Aynaoui in
Rome. He's 55-years old. Teaches everybody but he's not
fit anymore. So when I saw him playing with Younes, it was
funny. I just finished practicing with Younes. My dad was
watching. Younes asked him to play, to come. And it was
funny to see him play with a good player like Younes."
Interesting Fact: "I'm as crazy as I am on the court as I am also off the
court. Before when I did not have my girlfriend, I was -
before some matches - I was going to sleep at five o' clock
in the morning. And playing my match the next day — and
sometimes win (laughs)!"
People Qualities Most Admired: "I like to see people more nice, more friendly.
Those things are more important to me. The other
things are not."
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