Mikhail Kukushkin - professional tennis player from Kazakhstan, born on December 26, 1987 in Volgograd, Russian Federation. He initially played for Russia until 2008. His career highlights include the ATP singles title in 2010 and team gold at the 2012 Asian Games.
early life
Mikhail was born as the second child of Alexander and Tatyana Kukushkin, after his older sister Ekaterina. Tennis became an important part of his life from the very beginning, attracting him with its fast pace and the mental challenges it created. From the age of six he was trained by his father, guiding his development until he was seventeen. The family faced economic difficulties, often skimping on basic necessities to fund Mikhail's educational ambitions. Despite these financial limitations, Mikhail devoted every free moment to tennis, sometimes at the expense of his education, deeply appreciating the sacrifices his father made to support his dream. Training grounds ranged from empty swimming pools to makeshift grounds in unlikely places such as prisons due to a lack of funds for proper facilities. In his early years, Mikhail made do with just one tennis racket, which he carefully kept, never breaking it during his entire career, a reflection of the discipline instilled in him in his youth.
Start a professional career
Mikhail Kukushkin began his tennis career at the age of 17, playing his first tournaments on a limited budget, which forced him to be frugal in all aspects. He started with futures and challengers, achieving his first successes at the ATP Challenger tournaments in Saransk and Samarkand by the age of 20. Although he moved up to the ATP tours, early victories in smaller events were not enough to make a significant breakthrough due to ongoing financial constraints. .
Earnings from ITF tournaments were minimal, often around $500, barely covering the cost of the next event. Despite the fact that he was one of the leading juniors in the Russian Federation, he lacked internal support and had to invest his winnings in equipment and clothing. He believed that the right funding would greatly enhance his career prospects.
Playing for the Kazakhstan national team
In 2008, the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation suggested that Kukushkin change his sports citizenship. Having accepted this, he began performing under the flag of Kazakhstan, which soon had a positive effect on his performances. In 2009, he played in the main draw of the Masters in Miami for the first time and played in several other tournaments on the tour. He had significant success at the Kremlin Cup, narrowly missing out on the final after losing to Mikhail Youzhny in the semi-finals. By then he had entered the top 22 at the age of XNUMX.
In 2010, Kukushkin made his Grand Slam debut and won his first ATP title in St. Petersburg. His progress was later hampered by injuries, which led to surgeries in 2012 and a drop in ratings. He fought back in 2013, winning three Challenger events and winning gold at the 2014 Asian Games in South Korea in the team event.
Awards and achievements
Kukushkin's career had its ups and downs; he reached his highest ATP ranking (No. 39) in February 2019, reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon and competing at the US Open. In 2021, he represented Kazakhstan at the Tokyo Olympics, but was eliminated in the second round after losing to Ilya Ivashko of Belarus. That year at the Davis Cup, Kazakhstan, despite topping their group, was eliminated in the quarter-finals by a strong Serbian team with Novak Djokovic, although Kukushkin won his match against Miomir Kecmanovic.
Although Mikhail Kukushkin's records may not place him among the tennis elite, his achievements are noteworthy. His career continues, as evidenced by his victory at the ATP tournament in St. Petersburg in 2010 and team gold at the 2014 Asian Games. His most successful performances at Grand Slam tournaments include reaching the fourth rounds of the Australian Open and Wimbledon, as well as several rounds at other major tournaments. Hard courts are his favorite surface and have brought him significant victories.
Personal life
After his father, Anastasia Ulikhina became Mikhail’s coach. Their professional relationship blossomed into romance, and they got married in 2011. Anastasia took a personal approach to managing Mikhail’s career: from planning training to finding sparring partners. Despite the initial harmony, the marriage experienced problems, culminating in divorce in 2018. Soon after, Mikhail began a relationship with Anastasia Usova, sharing his new joy with his fans on social networks. The couple married in 2021 at the historic Griboedov registry office in Moscow, celebrating their union with a beach wedding, as documented on Instagram.
Off the tennis court, Mikhail indulges in culinary pleasures such as borscht and fried potatoes, although due to his training regime he enjoys them in moderation. He spends his free time reading and watching films, and is a passionate supporter of his fellow Kazakh athletes. Mikhail and his wife love to relax by the sea, enjoying the soothing sounds of the waves and the texture of the beach under their feet.
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