Winning combinations Bruno Soares with Mate Pavic (facing page) after their US Open triumph in 2020 and with his current partner, Jamie Murray
What’s your favourite tournament? “It would have to be the US Open. NewYork’s a crazy city, but I’ve always loved it. I also love the tournament. I’vewon themixed doubles there twice and themen’s doubles twice – and I’ve also played in twomoremen’s finals there.” Ronaldo, the former Brazilian footballer, has just bought control of Cruzeiro, the club where he started his professional career. Cruzeiro are from your home city of Belo Horizonte and are the club you support. Would Ronaldo be the sports person outside of tennis you admire the most? “Hewould be right up there. Sincewe became friends seven or eight years ago I’ve come to realisewhat a special human being he is. He’s loved by everyone. When you spend timewith himyou soon realise that he’s just a normal guy. He’s very easy-going. All the success that he’s had, as a footballer and as a businessman, has not changed himas a person. I really admire that.” What career do you think you might have followed if you had not been a tennis player? “I think I would have done something related to finance. I like to understand business investments and all that area. I think it’s fascinating.” If you could spend a week visiting a city, without any obligation to play tennis there, where would it be? “Probably NewYork, especially in the summer, though I also really likeMiami, London and Rio.”
When was the last time you paid for a ticket to watch a sporting event? “Usually I’m lucky enough to be invited to events. Unfortunately the last time I paid towatchwas probably Brazil’s 7-1 defeat by Germany in the World Cup semi-finals [at BeloHorizonte in 2014].”
Bruno Soares fact file
Age: 40 Nationality: Brazilian Born: Belo Horizonte, Brazil Height: 5ft 11in Highest world ranking: No 2 in doubles (October 2016); No 221 in singles (March 2004) Tour-level doubles titles: 35 (plus runner-up 33 times) Most titles won in a year: six in 2013 (five with Peya, one with Fleming) Grand Slamdebut: French Open 2008 Grand Slammen’s doubles titles: 2016 Australian Open (with Murray); 2016 US Open (with Murray); 2020 US Open (with Pavic) Grand Slammixed doubles titles: 2012 US Open (with Makarova); 2014 US Open (with Mirza); 2016 Australian Open (with Vesnina)
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