Bubka Jr., at peace with his surname

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http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/19/stories ... 212000.htm

Bubka Jr., at peace with his surname

Principal Correspondent

Says it is a legacy he is proud to inherit

Chikmagalur: Living under a father's shadow can be unnerving specially when he answers to the name of Sergei Bubka, pole-vaulting legend and the man who sits on a 12-year-old World record of 6.14 metres. However for Sergei Bubka Junior, it is a legacy he is proud to inherit and it is also about being comfortable with his name.

"I like my name, it is interesting," Bubka Jr said while gearing up for his matches here in the Coffee Cup ATP Challenger tennis tournament. But does the surname put any pressure? "Not really, because I grew up with it I am used to it," he said.

In the family


The affable 19-year-old from Ukraine said that sport runs in his family. Besides his famous father, his mother was a gymnast and his elder brother briefly toyed with tennis before switching over to academics.

So did he ever pole-vault ? "Yes I did when I was really young. Might have scaled around 2.5 metres. But I love tennis, I enjoy the game and it is a choice that I have made," Bubka Jr said.

The lessons he learnt from his father ? "Being determined. He told me that if you can beat yourself you can anybody else. He said that you have to do all that is possible to achieve what you want," Bubka Jr said.

On the right track


And he believes that he is on the right track. "I have a good technique though I need to work on my baseline game and need to get comfortable with playing on grass. I have got the right genes, I am physically very fit and I have made sacrifices, missing out on family and friends because I am on the road playing tennis but I am happy doing this. It is all about me now and if I don't succeed then it's entirely my fault," Bubka Jr, currently ranked 698, said.

He, however, conceded that his background helps. "Yes I am fortunate. In my country there are so many talented players but they don't have the facilities to travel and play. Having a champion sportsman like my father is a big help," he said. Bubka Jr is now based in Monaco, coached by Bob Brett

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