Why I Can’t Be World Number 1

World Number 93 female tennis player, Russian Nina Brachikova, who is featuring in the ongoing Governor’s Cup told DAMILARE OKUNOLA  in this interview why she thinks she cannot make it to the Top 10  in the world.

Why are you in Nigeria?

I just thought that with the way things were going at this time of the year, I needed to play more matches and getting that on a higher level is often difficult. So, I decided to come to Nigeria to participate in the Governor’s Cup which I’ve won. There isn’t any other way to gain confidence than to win matches and I hope to win a few more matches here.

What is it like playing against top world players?

I played against Radwanska, Roberta Vinci and a couple of top players and it has enhanced my game. They are all top players and it was good for me, playing with them also boosted my confidence.

What do you make of the level of players at this tournament?

When you pitch a top twenty player against a player who’s not ranked, you should also know what to expect, compared to playing against a top hundred player. It’ll be pretty easy here but upsets are likely just as we almost recorded in my quarterfinal match.

You won your first match against the Nigerian champion, was it that easy?

The match went quite easy for me and the weather was quite hot as Lagos is always. It wasn’t a barrier for me though because she never stood any chance against me.

How would you compare playing tennis in Nigeria with playing in other countries?

Every tournament has its own peculiarity and this makes it difficult to compare playing in Nigeria with playing elsewhere. However, you cannot compare a $25,000 tournament with a tournament that pays $100,000. In Nigeria, it’s pretty tough to play, it’s always hot in Lagos and I must confess that the humidity affects games.

How is tennis in Russia?

There are a lot of top tennis players in Russia who play regularly. It is better monitored than what is obtainable here. Moreso, the players play a lot of circuits throughout the year.

How have you fared with your boyfriend?

Smiles…I’m married to him now and my husband is here with me as well.

When is your first baby coming?

That’s not anytime soon because I want to enjoy my tennis and when I decide to stop playing, we can have babies.

What is your ambition?

I want to enjoy playing tennis and stay in the top 100 in the world for as long as I can.

Why not be the number one player?

I don’t think I can become the number one player because I’m lagging in some skills, my fitness level plus I have a problem with my knees so I don’t see myself being the number one player in the world.

What are your chances of winning this tourney?

Quite good, but I don’t like to think about it. I’d rather focus on each game as it comes.

Do you see any player stopping you from getting to the final?

That’s a possibility. If she has a good day and I have a bad day one, it means that I’ll lose the match.

What is next after the Governor’s cup?

After the Governor’s Cup, I’ll be in Dubai for the w$75,000 tournament.