It's just before Christmas, and I'm way behind in shopping. I almost forgot to get something for my friends in the Marat Safin Mafia, who were pretty well-behaved this year, although a few of you still won't be getting invitations to my New Year's bash and I suspect you will find some coal in your stockings come Christmas morning.
I have the incredible opportunity, thanks to Regina Capulong of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, to interview several rising stars during the offseason and introduce them to you. These players don't get a ton of time off from tennis (just over a month, usually), so I have to really thank them for taking a few minutes out of their days and putting up with my inane questions.
Let me introduce you to one of my favorite players on the tour, Gisela Dulko (pronounced jee-ZELL-ah DOOL-koh). Gisela is currently ranked 26th in both singles and doubles (hey, think I'm going to play that number in the lottery tonight) and has been steadily rising up the ranks since she joined the tour in 2001. She has career records in both singles and doubles well over .500, and while she is still waiting for her first pro singles title, she has four career doubles titles, three of them just this season.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Gisela is truly a hometown gal. When I asked her which tour stops had the best restaurants, she immediately responded with, "I would like Buenos Aires for sure, but there is no tournament here!!!" Clearly, she really loves the local cuisine and eateries. So one of the things I'll do is put a WTA tour stop for her on my Christmas wish list. Every year at least one thing on the list usually comes true. I'll put the tournament number one on my list for you, Gisela. Hey, Santa, did you hear me?
Gisela told me that she played 23 tournaments this year, which meant she was on the road and away from home over half a year. That is just a ton of time to be away. I used to travel a ton myself, but at best, was away from my home a little over 16 weeks. I can tell you that 16 weeks was nearly unmanageable, so to be away from home for 26+ weeks and often far away, is just incredible. I am amazed how Gisela is able to do it all with a great big smile.
Having said all that, let me give you a little flavor of Gisela, and share with you part of the interview:
SC — Who do you "hang" with on tour? Who are your tour "girlfriends?"
Gisela — I hang out a lot with Maria Kirilenko — she is my best friend on Tour.
SC — What tour stop has the best shopping?
Gisela — Indian Wells and Miami.
SC — Who is your favorite ATP player? Why?
Gisela — Roger [Federer], why? Simple — he is the best!
SC — What one item do you carry in your tennis bag for good luck?
Gisela — I don't carry anything for good luck, but I carry my father's picture all the time.
SC — What is your favorite thing about being home?
Gisela — My favorite thing to do at home is eat my grandmother's food, drive my car, and shopping.
SC — What is on your Christmas/holiday wish list?
Gisela — Health for all my family and for my friends.
You know, I marvel at how baseball or football fans can tell you just about every starting player in their respective leagues, but how tennis fans struggle to name players outside of the top 15. Professional tennis doesn't work without at least the top 200 players, and Dulko is among the players on tour who often don't get the recognition they so richly deserve. Phenomenal players all, toiling just below the marquee players like Serena [Williams], Venus [Williams], Martina [Hingis], Lindsay [Davenport], and the like. With her smile, attractive looks, and wonderful personality, when Gisela finally cracks the top 20, she will definitely get attention and be, in my opinion, a media force.
Gisela is one of the true rising stars on tour and one of the very nicest people you could ever meet. Watching her play, I often forget that she is only 20-years-young, and that she is still not legal to drink alcohol here in the NY-NJ-CT tri-state area. Her birthday is just a little over a month away, so before I go, please join me in wishing her a very happy birthday. How about this; after you read this column, go to the comments area and leave Gisela some warm holiday wishes and something nice for her birthday.
Well, I have to get back to the Christmas shopping. Gisela, since you'll be legal by the time of the U.S. Open, and you were so sweet to answer my questions, I owe you a drink or two when I see you at the Open. I understand they make a great daiquiri with your name on it at the Red Star Bar...
