Shevchenko Proud to Play at Home as Tennis Booms in Kazakhstan

Rising Kazakhstani talent Alexander Shevchenko is emerging as one of the ATP Tour’s most promising players. With a career-high ranking of No. 45 reached in February 2024, he has already impressed on big stages—reaching his first ATP final at Moselle and representing Kazakhstan with growing confidence. Known for his solid baseline game, strong return skills, and composure in tight matches, Shevchenko enters this tournament hungry to break into the top-40 and prove that his recent results are just the beginning
 
Q: It must feel special to play here at home. What does it mean to you?
A: Yes, it’s always something special. For me, it’s a privilege to play here. I see how many people are getting involved in tennis and how much they love it. It’s always a pleasure to play in Kazakhstan, and I’m really glad to be here. I’m pumped for this tournament.
Q: Your views on  growth of tennis in Kazakhstan over the past year?
A: Yes, absolutely. It’s growing very quickly. The Federation, under Bulat Utemuratov, has done a great job. More and more people are getting involved, and there are many big tournaments now, especially Challenger events. Tennis is really expanding fast, and people are enjoying it.
Q: Do you think having big names like yourself and Alexander Bublik helps increase interest in tennis here?
A: Definitely. When kids and fans see us playing on TV, it inspires them. Sasha Bublik, especially, has a huge media presence and is very entertaining to watch. People love his game and personality, so he’s doing a great job promoting tennis in Kazakhstan.
Q: You switched to represent Kazakhstan last year. How was that transition?
A: It was a great transition. My mother is from Kazakhstan, so it feels natural to represent this country. I’m proud to play for Kazakhstan and really enjoy being part of the team..  The people around me gave great advice about how to build my career. The facilities here are excellent, and honestly, it was the best decision I could make. I didn’t get much support in Russia, but Kazakhstan was there for me, and I’m really grateful for that.
Q: How do you view the growth of tennis infrastructure in Kazakhstan in recent years?
A: It’s been phenomenal. The Federation has done amazing work. Every year, I see more and more people involved in tennis. New tennis centers are opening, and so many kids are playing now. Whenever I do masterclasses, there’s a huge line of children waiting to hit with me. It’s really inspiring. The improvement is huge every year.
Q: How has your season been so far, especially heading into the final part of the year?
A: It’s been a tough year because I started with a knee injury. At one point, I made only about 120 ranking points in four months, and I was in real trouble. There was even a question about whether I needed surgery. But with treatment and injections, we managed to stabilize it, and in the second half of the season, I started playing much better. I’ve earned a lot of points and climbed back. I’m proud of how I handled it . It has been difficult, but I fought through.
Q: You’re facing Laslo Djere for the first time in the opener . How do you prepare for someone you’ve never played before?
A: It’s always a challenge. I’ve watched some of his matches , he's been a pro on the tour for many years now and is an experienced player. I’m watching some of his matches on indoor  hardcourts  to understand his strengths and weaknesses. But most importantly, I’ll focus on my own game. If I play my best tennis, I believe I can win most matches.