Getting to Know Thomas Johansson

UP FRONT....

->> - FROM RAGS TO RICHES... In a recent interview with "Expressen", one of the Swedish evening papers, THOMAS JOHANSSON'S father Krister said that when Thomas was around 15 years old, the family didn't have enough money to support his travelling. So despite selling the family caravan, there still wasn't enough money to cover the expenses. "That was the toughest thing that ever happened to me," said Krister. "My wife and I talked about it for days before we had enough courage to tell Thomas. Then we took him downstairs to the kitchen and told him the truth: he would have to quit playing tennis, since we couldn't afford it. I'll never forget the look on his face." Eventually, three local companies paid the family a total of 51,000 SEK (approximately US$5,000) so that he could continue to play tournaments abroad. "I don't know who cried the most, Thomas or me," said Krister. "He has paid us back in many ways. But the thing I appreciate the most is that he calls home every day, no matter where he is in the world."

->> - PAGING DR. JOHANSSON... A doctor who doesn't like blood is like a professional tennis player who can't stand holding a tennis racquet. Fortunately for THOMAS JOHANSSON, he discovered his distaste for dealing with the crimson fluid before he chose an occupation. Johansson grew up thinking he would like to become a doctor one day, before discovering his detestation for blood. "I hate to see blood," he says. "So I cannot see how I could be a good doctor." But that hasn't stopped Johansson from thinking about a possible career in a related field after his playing days are over. "I would like to work as a trainer or a guy who is trying to help different athletes to get back on the road again," he says. "I would like to see how the body works."

->> - HI HO, HI HO, IT'S OFF TO WORK WE GO...THOMAS JOHANSSON'S nickname in his native Sweden is Toker, which he explains "means you are a little crazy." But while Johansson showed no signs of letting his temper get out of control in Melbourne, his nickname has more than just one meaning. "Toker is also one of the seven dwarfs in Snow White," he says. "The one with the big ears!"

TOURNAMENT TALES...
->> IN MONTREAL...THOMAS JOHANSSON led a group of ATP stars largely comprised of Swedish and Czech players when they defeated an all-star cast from the National Hockey League during the 2001 Tennis Masters Series Montreal. The event, which was part of the tournament's Family Day festivities, took place on court one before a full house of 3,500 spectators. The Swedish trio of JOHANSSON, THOMAS ENQVIST and JONAS BJORKMAN proved to be too much for the NHL stars. Johansson took MVP honors, netting two goals and assisting on a goal by Enqvist. Among the NHL stars posting for the game were NHL All-Stars Donald Audette of the Dallas Stars, Eric Daze of Chicago Blackhawks. (for pix, contact J.J. Carter at jcarter@atptennis.com).

->> IN PARIS...
As a big lover of killer whales, THOMAS JOHANSSON has always said he would like to go to the Norwegian fjords to see one for himself. But while he hasn't caught sight of the magnificent creatures up front, he did show plenty of killer instinct against Henri Leconte in his last ever match in front of his beloved French fans in Paris a few years ago. In a first round match on Center Court at Roland Garros in 1996, Johansson took no pity on the local hero, defeating him 6-1, 6-1, 6-4. "It was an emotional experience," says Johansson. "I think Henri was really, really nervous because it was his last match and he should beat me. I beat him in straight sets but just the feeling of being on Center Court in a big event like that was unbelievable."

DON'T MENTION...
Any other sports besides tennis or ice hockey to THOMAS JOHANSSON. "The funny thing that everyone says is that I am not big into other sports," he says. "If you take Enqvist, Norman and everyone, they know everything. I don't know a thing about rules, things like that. They laugh at me." But on ice hockey, he can hold his own. "I have a favorite team in Sweden called Djurgarden," he says. It's a pretty silly name because if you translate it directly they're called 'animal garden.' But they come from Stockholm and I like them."

GETTING PUB...JOHANSSON'S run in Australia has been garnering headlines throughout the world, and no more so than in his native Sweden. Carl-Axel Hageskog, Sweden's Davis Cup coach, told Expressen: "He has one of the best serves in the game. When he hits a straight serve at up to 210 km/h, not many can catch up." Hageskog also commented on Johansson's new attitude after defeating Jiri Novak in five sets, saying: "Had this semifinal been played a couple of years ago, Thomas may have lost it after the second set. He has gained more patience. It was a view backed by two-time Australian Open champion Stefan Edberg, who told Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter: "He is no longer whining so much and reacting so negatively to setbacks."

BY THE NUMBERS...
At No. 18 in the ESP before the Australian Open began, Thomas Johansson became the latest player to win his first career Grand Slam title before ever ranking in the Top 10 during his career. In the last 20 years, Mats Wilander (Roland Garros 1982), Boris Becker (Wimbledon 1985), Michael Chang (Roland Garros 1989), Pete Sampras (US Open 1990) and Gustavo Kuerten (Roland Garros 1997) all were ranked outside the Top 10 before claiming their first Slam championships.

GOT YOUR NUMBER...
Until the quarterfinals in Moscow last year, THOMAS JOHANSSON had scored eight consecutive wins against YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV dating back to the 1998 US Open. Although Kafelnikov finally broke his losing streak against the Swede, Johansson has a 9-5 edge over the Russian. So what is it about Kafelnikov's game that Johansson likes so much? "I think I had a psychological edge against him when we step on court," he says. "We always play good matches against each other." After his latest victory against MARAT SAFIN to tie their own personal head-to-head series at 2-2, Johansson now is 19-9 against Russians.

SAY WHAT....
"In a match like this [the Swedish fans] helped me so much. It was great to be playing in front of them, screaming all the time. This is like a dream come true for me." - Thomas Johansson on the incredible support the Swedes gave him en route to his first Slam final.

"I always tie my shoes on the court and I never walk on the lines, that's just a stupid thing I do all the time." - Thomas Johansson his superstitions, a personal trait he reiterated to fellow Swede Jonas Bjorkman in an interview on Swedish national television (SVT) before the final.

"I have played a lot of squash, a faster game with a completely different moving pattern. That has been very useful." - Thomas Johansson on how another racquet and ball game helped his tennis for the 2002 season.

"Who your size serves as well as you do and as hard as you do?" - Former World No. 1 Jim Courier to Thomas Johansson after the Swede defeated him en route to the Tennis Masters Series title in Montreal in 1999.