Adjusting the bar

Son of gold-medalist pole vaulter aims high

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- As a pole vaulter, Sergei Bubka won an Olympic gold medal, six world championships and set 35 world records.

As a tennis player he lost to a nine-year-old.

The kid who beat him is his own, Sergei Jr., who is now 15 and trying to scale the heights in his chosen sport.

Sergei Jr. lost a first-round match in the junior singles at the Australian Open on Monday. Despite that, and a junior ranking of No. 157, he attracted a media presence comparable to the top senior players.

In parts of Europe, being the son of Bubka would be like being the offspring of Michael Jordan in the United States.

"It's strange because many people come to you and say 'you're the son of a famous father,'" Sergei Jr. said Monday. "I think it's different to other people. I'm used to it, but I wish one day it will be about me."

Freed from communism in 1991 by perestroika, Sergei Bubka evolved into the first great capitalist of track and field, edging the world record up week after week in his prime to claim bonus money when the sport was starting to embrace professionalism.

He has been as astute since retiring, building a diverse business empire, and has senior roles at the International Olympic Committee and IAAF and as a member of the Ukraine government.

Sergei Jr., who lives with his parents in Monaco, admits to attempting pole vault once.

"It's a fun sport but I prefer tennis," he said. "I want to be a professional tennis player."

He got to see the tail end of his father's athletics career.

"The most memorable was in Athens in 1997 when he was injured all year," said Sergei Jr. "It was his first competition after the injury and he won the world championship. It was his last big victory."

Sergei Jr. said his mother steered him toward tennis.

"When I was small it was [Andre] Agassi and [Pete] Sampras I liked the best," he said. "But now I really like [Marat] Safin -- his game, style and everything.

"I started when I was seven. My mother took me to a friend who is a tennis coach. I tried it, I liked it a lot."

The Bubkas had collected some talented friends from their involvement in sport -- one of whom is Bob Brett, the one time coach of German tennis champion Boris Becker.

Brett is still one Sergei Jr.'s two coaches and helped him practice for two weeks before he arrived in Australia. His goal is to play all the Grand Slam junior tournaments this year and his ranking is not a fair reflection on his ability because most opponents are two years older.

His father has primed him for battle.

"He mainly gives me advice about my attitude on court, that I should fight," Sergei Jr. said, before revealing the famous pole vaulter plays some tennis himself.

"After he stopped athletics he's been playing more and more. He's improving also."

But not enough to trouble Sergei Jr.

"At what age did I first beat him? I'd say nine or 10. He just plays for fun, so he takes it normally."

 

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