Hlaváčková’s husband said how to live in the Czech Republic: Prague is a diamond! Just those emotions
He grew up in Italy and lived in America for about fifteen years. He has been living in Prague for more than a year and a half. Fabrizio Sestini, the husband of former Czech tennis player Andrey Sestini Hlaváčková, moved to the countries of his wives, from where he is involved in the organization of WTA tournaments from a distance. What surprised the former Italian tennis player in Prague the most, according to him, what are the Czechs like and what decided that they would live with their family here? He revealed this in an interview for iSport LIFE.
“Prague is a small European diamond,” Fabrizio Sestini praises his new home in the Czech Republic, where he and his wife came to move abroad after years abroad. For the Italian manager, life in the capital is common to the vast majority, mainly due to the language barrier. “English is not a language you would understand in everyday life. That’s why I’m trying to learn Czech, but it’s hard, “he told LIFE for iSport.
What decided that you will live with your family in the Czech Republic?
“We only moved here permanently in February last year. We were happy for the decision, because then a coronavirus pandemic broke out, which complicated a lot of things. Before that, I lived for almost 15 years in Florida, where I worked for ATP and WTA. From there, Andrea and I moved to London for about a year and then to Prague. There was a fairly simple reason for that at the time – Prague came to us great for family life. It is far safer than London or Saint Petersburg, where we lived before. Also, for example, the cost of living here is not so high. Of course, the fact that Andrea has the whole family played a big role. We thought it was for Isabella (daughter ed. note) It will be a big plus when he grows up in a wider family circle. Andrea also has more job opportunities here, and yet I can work remotely, there was nothing to deal with in this regard. “
What is your current job?
“I am the Tournament Relations Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. That means I help manage about 24 WTA tournaments. I work directly with tournament directors and their teams, with whom we have managed to organize successful events, both financially and operationally. After the tournaments, we evaluate what we could do even better to find opportunities for further growth and check that everything went according to our standards. “
Fabrizio Sestini with his wife Andrea Sestini Hlaváčková and daughter Bibi
What surprised you the most in the Czech Republic?
“I guess how great it is here. Not that it’s completely new to me. Andrea and I got together twelve years ago, and half of us are married. So I’ve been to the Czech Republic many times before. But now that he lives here, he cannot appreciate Prague as a city even more. I like that there are a lot of green areas and beautiful nature. People are nice and relaxed too. Andrea and I have traveled quite a lot in our lives and we have visited more parts of the world. We are all the more aware that Prague is actually such a small European diamond. “
What do you think is better in Italy than in the Czech Republic?
“I come from Rome, which is definitely one of the most beautiful cities in the world for me. The weather makes it exceptional, among other things. The sun almost always shines there and it rarely rains. That cannot be said completely about Prague. In addition, I like the wide range of activities in Rome. There is perhaps everything you can think of – sights, the beach or even the mountains and amazing nature. But Prague also has its undeniable advantages. Unlike Rome, everything is better organized. This is probably due to the fact that people are more considerate of the city and the other. The infrastructure here is also much better and more modern than in Rome, which is a really big plus when you travel with your family. “
What do you think the Czechs are like?
“Other than Italians. Italians are very passionate and let their emotions pass. Czechs have it differently. Maybe it’s because they come from the more northern area and so they themselves are a bit colder. They have also gone through very difficult periods in history, and for this reason they are probably differently emotionally based than my Italians. I have the impression that young Czechs are in this but a little else. New modern societies in Europe and around the world are adapting better, trusting others much more, learning English and studying abroad, which is definitely positive for me. “
What about you and Czech?
“It’s a challenge for me. I speak four languages - Spanish, French, Italian and English. I also understand Portuguese well, although speaking a little worse. Thanks to the language skills, traveling around the world has never been a problem for me. Almost everywhere I communicated with the locals and was able to get used to practically anywhere. But in the Czech Republic it is a bit of a problem. English, outside of Prague, is not a language you would understand in everyday life. That’s why I try to learn Czech, but it’s hard. It is completely different from Romance languages. Anyway, I want to learn further. We plan to stay in the Czech Republic for a long time and I would like to communicate with the locals in their language. “
Do you like Czech cuisine?
“Yes, I do, although I admit it’s not exactly my favorite. I prefer Italian and Asian. Fortunately, Andrea and I are similar, so it’s easier for us. I’ve tried a lot of Czech dishes – various dumplings, sauces… But probably my favorite Czech dish is tartare. “
What is your favorite place in the Czech Republic?
“Our home here in Prague. We have parks nearby, where we really like to ride a bike, run or just walk there. I really like green areas and also water. This is one of the things that I quite miss here in the Czech Republic – there is no access to the sea. In summer, at least we go to a small lake outside Prague, where you can even go water skiing, which we quite liked. “
What is your favorite Italian and Czech athlete?
“It is probably not possible to say that some of the Italian athletes are among my favorites. This year, however, we have become European football champions, so I will say our national team “Azzurri”. And a favorite Czech athlete? Definitely my wife. It may sound cliché, but it really is. She is a great tennis player and what sticks to her is absolutely incredible. There may be more talented athletes, but she is definitely the hardest and most honest I know. This is also the reason why she managed to win two grand slams, win a silver medal in London and only recently did not advance to the Olympic finals in Rio. Yes, she is my biggest Czech heroine. “
Fabrizio Sestini
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