Legendary 66-year-old Georgian tennis player Aleksandre Metreveli does not need to be represented but he has such sport biography that everyone will browse it once more.
Aleksandre Metreveli is the only soviet tennis player who played in the final of Wimbledon three times – once in singles (1973) and twice in mixed doubles (1968 and 1970) with Olga Morozov. 
Metreveli is 16 times European, 29 times champion of the Soviet Union. He won several tournaments in the Soviet Union. Metreveli is the only soviet man tennis player who was in the top ten in world ranking, he reached his career peak in 1974 and became No.9 seed. During 18 years, he was in the top ten of the best soviet tennis players.  12 times he was No.1 seed of the Soviet Union. He competed at Grand Slam 23 times (won 52 matches from 74). As a member of the USSR team he competed at Devis Cup 38 times (he won 80 matches from 105).
He is honored sport master of the USSR. Metreveli was deputy of head of Sport committee, vice-president of the USSR tennis federation, consultant of Uzbek national team, assistant of the minister of Sports of Russia.. besides all he was working for International Tennis Federation. 
Now he is a commentator of TV channel HTB –plus (NTV).
It is surprising, but it is fact that Georgian Tennis is in a very bad condition and Georgia needs such specialist as Aleksandre Metreveli is. Due to bad condition Georgian prospective tennis players leave Georgia and take citizenship of other countries. The last player who left Georgia is Aleksandre Basilashvili who became citizen of Russia. We talked about several issues with Aleksandre Metreveli who is in Tbilisi now.
- How it can be explained that Georgian tennis players leave Georgia and become citizens of other countries?
- It happens due to bad conditions. There are no elementary terms of developing tennis and that’s why tennis players leave Georgia. Not to say anything about international tournaments, holding Georgian championship is problem in Georgian, because there are not enough players for that.
- You mean courts and infrastructure when you talk about conditions, do not you?
- Of course I do. I cannot understand why “Dinamo” courts located on the right embankment of the Mtkvari were ruined. They needed very little repair and these courts would be one of the bests in the world. I remember, basketball players of “Dinamo” used to train there. These courts were history of Georgian. Representatives of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other former Soviet countries used to come and train at these courts. 
- Do you know, what was the reason of destruction of these courts?
- The government plans to build the House of Justice instead of these courts.
- Are there other courts besides “Dinamo”?
- No matter they are or not. They do not satisfy even elementary terms of international standards and as a result it is impossible to grow there high rank tennis player. Gigi Ugulava mayor of Tbilisi opened new courts in Vake Park, there is neither water nor lavatory. When after the match foreign tennis player asked where was located lavatory, he was shown park lavatory which is quite far from the courts. No need to make any comment.  
- And how do you think who is guilty?
- Georgian tennis federation is also guilty, which is headed by Leila Meskhi for several years. Meskhi bought courts located in Marjanishvili street in a very symbolic prize, now these courts are named as academy. I wonder why it is called courts academy when thee are not normal training terms. Meskhi cannot attract businessmen too. Bidzina Ivanishvili well-known Georgian businessman and Maecenas was financing reconstruction of tennis complex in Dighomi, Meskhi tried to deceive Ivanishvili, who guessed it and stopped financing. As a result Meskhi could not manage to finish construction of these courts. In a word, Meskhi has to understand that when she cannot do anything she has to go and give a chance to another of doing something.  
- So, as you say only federation is guilty.
- Of course it is not so. If tennis federation cannot work, where is government, ministry of sport, Olympic committee? As it seems no one interests with tennis in Georgia and that’s why it is in such condition. 

- several years before, you were one of the candidates of presidential election of tennis federation, but your opponent Leila Meskhi won it… 

- I have never been unemployed after retiring from active sport. I was employed even after destroying the USSR when there was chaos in Georgia. I have a lot of acquaintance in European and World tennis elite. According to this I wanted to become president of Georgian tennis federation and help Georgian tennis with my experience, influence and acquaintances. Giorgi Gabashvili minister for culture, Heritage Preservation and Sport of Georgia decided another way and appointed Leila Meskhi on this position.

- What does it meat, she was appointed? So, Meskhi did not win presidential election, did she?

- Election was just formality, because winner was known before holding it.

- If you knew that it was just formality, why did you participate in it?
- Unfortunately, I heard it after holding the election that it was just formality.
- Has the government of Georgia ever shown any interest with you?
- I was told that there were problems in tennis and was asked to make plan for solving it. I worked much, made a plan for surviving Georgian tennis and I sent this plan to the government. Then I heard that no one read my letter and it was sent to archive without reading.  

-  Are you mistrusted with the current government of Georgia?
- I am oppositionist! During rose revolution as everyone I was supporting Saakashvili but my expectations did not come true and as a result I am oppositionist. I am disappointed, because after his appearing in government nothing good was done in Georgian tennis, on the contrary everything was ruined, what was before.
-  Are you member of any political party?
- I have never involved in politics and I will never do it. If I am oppositionist it does not mean that I am member of any political party. Politics is not my business, I dedicated whole my life to tennis. 

- If the government asks you help them in reviving Georgian tennis, will you agree?
- Georgian tennis is clinically dead and it will be very difficult to revive it. I am 66-year-old and I do not have enough energy for doing this alone. If anyone will appear I will help, share my experience to him/her for reviving tennis in Georgia. 
- How did you start working in Russia?
- I used to work very often in Russia. I had there my own businesses and was training tennis players. In 1992 Shamil Tarpishev Minister of Sports of Russia called me and asked me to work as his deputy, I worked there for several years.  
Three years before, former tennis player Anna Dmitrieva called me and asked me to work as a commentator for HTB-plus (NTV Plus). I am still working there.
- Have you changed citizenship?
- During existing the Soviet Union Russians were offering it but I did not agree. After destruction of the USSR I left for Russia I had not chance. I have double citizenship.
- In case of choice, what would you choose citizenship of Georgia or Russia?
- You do not know me and that’s why you are asking me such question – I will never regret citizenship of Georgia.
- Why did you leave for Russia?
- I will tell you one little story and you can make conclusion. In 90s years of the twentieth century I was training very talented child, his surname was Gelashvili. At the same time I was captain of National Team and if I am right it was preparing for Devis Cup. At this time “The Mkhedrioni” (it was a paramilitary group and political organisation in the Republic of Georgia) has big influence in country and one of the members of it, whose surname was Gelashvili came to me with his friends and asked me to take this sportsman who was bearing the same surname what he had in national team. I explained that I was training him and told that he was not ready for playing for National Team, it was too early for him. They shared my opinion and we said good-bye to each other. After several days ministry of sports sent me list of National Team and Gelashvili was among them (unfortunately I do not remember his name). Of course I immediately left national team. Now make conclusion yourself why I left for Russia.
- Unfortunately Georgia did not have as strong tennis player as you are, before and after you. How do you think, who are the best tennis players of Georgia? Can you name top 3?
- Teimuraz Kakulia and Irakli Labadze.
- How do you think, did Irakli Labadze do his best?
- Irakli is talented tennis player, but he could not manage to do his best. All over the world he is the only tennis player, who had problem connected with weight and he did not solve this problem.
- Who is the most prospective Georgian tennis player now?  
- Unfortunately, I cannot name anyone.
- What do you think about Anna Tatishvili, who is the fourth tennis player after you, Irakli Labadze and Leila Meskhi who is in top 100?
- Being in women top 100 is nothing special. That child has been living in America for 10 years and if she were distinguished she would have better achievements. According to this I cannot call her prospective tennis player.
- What must be done for reviving Georgian tennis which is clinically dead?
- It goes without saying that it will be very difficult, but Georgian tennis must be revived and the government has to seriously involve in it. Only businessmen’s determination cannot solve this problem...

Roland Labuchidze