Unfortunately, Georgian tennis players do not succeed very often. After Irakli Labadze’s retire, Anna Tatishvili is the most prospective played, who will enter top 50 soon (supposedly it will happen on Monday). And now, there is another Georgian prospective player, Nika Basilashvili, who won three tournaments (prize money 15 000 USD) and as a result advanced in ranking.

Niko achieved the last success in Tbilisi. The final of the international tournament of Sports and Youth Affair was very tense, he beat Croatian Tony Androic 6:3, 4:6, 7:6 (7:1) and as I mentioned, he became winner of the main prize.
Last year Nika changed citizenship and used to represent Russia. After one year pause, Basilashvili again became citizen of Georgia and represented Georgia at Tbilisi International tournament.  After ending this mentioned tournament, “World Sport” talked to Nika Basilashvili.
- Last year, you gained citizenship of Russia. What was the reason of it?
- I had very bad conditions for training. In spite of long pause, I could not find any sponsor and that’s why I gained citizenship of Russia.
- Were you living in Russia during this time?
- I have never lived in Russia. I was living in the US and was training there.
- If you were living in the US and was training there, why did you become citizen of Russia?
- My sponsor was Gorin management company, which demanded me to become citizen of Russia.
- Were there any other demands from Russian side?
- I was offered to play for Russian national team, but I did not accept.
- Why did not you accept, are not you interested in playing for national team?
- I am interested in it, but my desire is to play for Georgian national team and that’s why I did not accept.
- So, you took back citizenship of Georgia for returning national team..
- I have double citizenship and I would like to play for Georgian national team. Besides this, Georgian side promised me to help in preparing and in participation in international tournaments and that’s why I gained back Georgian citizenship.
- Will you have problems to play for Georgian national team due to citizenship of Russia?
- I will not have any problems due to it.
- And for what you want double citizenship?
- Russian citizenship helps me when I participate in international tournaments in this country. That’s why I did not refuse from being citizen of Russia, no other reasons.
- Please, say something about yourself.
- I was born on February 23, 1992 in Tbilisi. Height- 183 sm, weight- 75kg. My first coach is Goga Santeladze and now my coach is my father Nodar Basilashvili.
- Was your trainer your father in the US?
- Basically, my trainer was my father, but American coaches also used to help me.
- You started the first tournament of Tbilisi badly. What was the reason of your failure?
- I was not well-prepared and it was the reason of failure. Then time by time I improved my physical condition and gained victory in the second tournament of Tbilisi. It worth mentioning that in the second circle I met Peter Goldstain (Austria) and I took revenge over him due to the failure in the first tournament.
- You overcame difficult fights in the semi-final (Jiri Vesely) and final (Tony Androic), which was more difficult for you to beat?
- In the semi-final I had stronger rival No.1 seed, but winning the final was more difficult, because I was not prepared physically well and got tired.
- Do you have fitness coach?
- No, I do not. But I was promised to have.
- You were No.362 seed in ranking before Tbilisi international tournament. After gained points in two Tbilisi tournaments 28 (1+27) what will be your seed in ranking?
- After publishing new ranking, I will be No.315 seed.
- And what is your goal for the end of the year?
- At the end of 2012, I plan to enter top 150.
- What about the final goal?
- My desire is to be in top 10 of the world.
- Until this year,  you won only one tournament – Sochi (prize money 10 000 USD). You started 2012 very well. Besides Tbilisi, you won Kazakhstan and Moscow (the same type tournaments) and went through the final of the same type tournament in Yerevan. What about your future goals?
- I will not compete at such type tournaments any more. In a week, I will take place in Lermontov (Russia) tournament, where the prize money is 50 000 USD. After that, I will go to Uzbekistan, where will be held international tournament (125 000 USD). I will end the current season in Moscow (prize money 50 000 USD).
- Which tournament do you want to win most of all?
- Wimbledon tournament. It is the most prestigious tournament and that’s it is my dream to win.
 

Roland Labuchidze