Georgia's Kalashnikova relishing chance to play against Paes

Georgian tennis player Oksana Kalashnikova wants to make most of her India tour.

Invited by the organizers of the ongoing third Amanora Premier Tennis League in Pune, the 24-year-old of Russian origin is super excited about getting a chance to play against Indian tennis icon Leander Paes, albeit in an exhibition match.

Kalashnikova, who transformed from singles to doubles player, is not new to Pune, having played in a couple of $25,000 tournaments and a $125,000 WTA Challenger in which she won the doubles title.

She will play a mixed doubles exhibition match against Paes on December 3, the final day of the Amanora league.

“I don’t know who will be my partner, but it doesn’t matter. To get a chance to play against a legend like Leander is good enough,” she said during an informal talk with media persons.

Kalashnikova gave the thumbs up to the concept of the franchisee-based league.

“I saw a few matches and know some women players from the ITF tour. This kind of league is good to develop camaraderie, friendship and team spirit. It was exciting to watch the league matches,” she said.

Till 2010, Kalashnikova played singles; her WTA ranking was a career-high of 158 when she suffered an injury that laid her off the sport for about a year.

“When I returned to the tour I began playing doubles better than singles and my doubles ranking went up. That’s when I decided to concentrate on bigger tournaments, as doubles provided me a better option,” she said, when asked why she chose doubles over a singles career.

Talking about Pune’s tennis fans, the Georgian said the crowd there always enjoys its tennis.

“I know tennis in India is much bigger a sport than in Georgia, where very few play the game. I have no idea why Georgians are not getting into playing professional tennis, but I know it is a struggle for those players who are not in top 100.”

Elaborating, Kalashnikova said if you are not in the top 100 then one is left to do everything, from making travelling plans to hotel booking.

"It is a hard way to learn, but it is a good school to learn. Once you make it to the big league then things move smoothly.

“Once you are there at the top then it is easier to stay there.”