What Niko liked in Bercy
"The qualification to Olympics, of course, particularly that we achieved it after the first two matches. The pressure was enormous before we obtained out ticket to Beijing, that´s why the fact that we assured it before the last dispute brought us a big relief. In spite of the pressure, we charmed. This team hat a great potential. I hope that we will be able to tap the full potential in China."
What Niko didn´t like in Bercy
"To play in an hall (POPB) more empty as full. This is really sad. I don´t want to blame the public for that, my critique goes toward the federation. Nothing or nothing special was made in order that this Olympic Qualification Tournament attract the people. Nobody knew that such a tournament was taking place in that weekend. There was no placard in Paris to announce that we played our ticket for the Olympic Games! It is crazy! A lot of fans said to me that the tickets were too expensive. And why didn´t the chiefs, who realised fastly that the hall will be not full, reduced the prices or even gave them for free? Yes, I am really angry. Even in March, there were more people for the friendly tournament. I have nothing against the spectators, they are not the guilty ones. Anyway, I want to thank all those who made an effort to come and sustain us. This qualification belongs a bit to them, too."
His photo shoot with Peter Lindbergh for the calendar "Les Dieux du Stade"
"It was very cool. Peter Lindbergh ist a great photographer. Apart the make-up, everything last not more than 20 minutes. Did I pose nude? Yes, is the issue of the calendar. But it is not a completely nude, because I have big hands which allowed me to hide the essential."
His day in Roland-Garros
"I watched the whole game between Novak Djokovic and Ernests Gulbis. I am a Djoko fan. What a player! I had the honour to be invited after the game by the French Television. It was nice. Of course, I was congratulated for the qualification to the Games. Anyway, it was funny. I think that the presenter, Laurent Luyat, thought that I am a naturalised Serb. He inisited in asking me if I am happy that Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic and Novak Djokovic, all Serbs, made it through the last four. I answered that I am, but also that I am not obligatory their biggest fan. If Gaël Monfils wins the tournament, I will be the happiest. My name is Karabatic, but I am French. "
The start of his holiday
"It has really begun on Tuesday, against midnight, since I arrived at Montpellier. I hang with my brother Luka, but I spend a lot of time with my parents. My father deligheted us yesterday with a delicious barbecue. He is the master of barbecue! After it, I was shopping with Luka. I will meet enough people in the weekend. Well, Vid (Kavticnik) can´t make it, but Titi, Igor (´he has birthday), Mika (Guigou), Damien Kabengele and Sohbi (Sioud) will be here. We will celebrate a family barbecue. And from now on I will let the handball aside during three weeks and I will relax myself at maximum. "
