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Veteran Canadiens defenceman Andrei Markov, in his own words this week, on a variety of topics:

Q: So how’s your tennis game?

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A: (Laughs) It could be better, you know? I’m not a professional. Whenever I have the time, I try to play. I still need to improve my game. I play two or three times a week during the summer. I have a cousin in Russia who’s got a big house and a tennis court next to it. In Florida (his off-season home), sometimes I play Sergei Berezin (a former NHLer who’s from Markov’s hometown of Voskresensk). I’ve tried to play golf, but it’s not my game. I prefer to play tennis rather than just walk around the golf course. Maybe someday I’ll be interested to play, but not now.

Q: Do you play tennis for recreation or conditioning?

A: For both. It depends who I play against. I’m lucky, my partners are better than me. They make me play at my high level. I have to run to hit the ball.

Q: You’ve attended only the U.S. Open as a fan. Which other Grand Slam event would you like to see live: Australia, French or Wimbledon?