Clay lover Timofey Skatov hopes 2024 gains on hard courts carry over into Almaty Open

ALMATY, Kazakhstan—At the start of this week, four Kazakhstani competitors featured in the Almaty Open main draw. Two won their openers on Tuesday, with Alexander Shevchenko coming through an all-home-country battle over qualifier Mikhail Kukushikin, after wild card Beibit Zhukayev advanced past Benjamin Hassan.

Former junior world No. 1 Timofey Skatov will look to make it three locals in the second round come Wednesday when he meets last week’s Shanghai semifinalist, Tomas Machac. TENNIS.com sat down with Skatov ahead of that showdown, where the 23-year-old discussed coming home, finding his footing away from clay, having the backing of a federation, and the players on tour today that he enjoys watching.

It’s not every week you get to play a “home” tournament. How are you feeling now that the Almaty Open is here?

SKATOV: I'm quite pumped. It will be my first time in three years to play a 250 at home. The conditions for the moment feel nice and I just cannot wait to start. I also have very nice opponent, so we'll see. I'll try to do my best.

You’ve competed in Almaty before, reaching your first Challenger final on clay three years ago. What’s your take on the city and the tournament’s relocation from Astana?

SKATOV: I've been a few times to Almaty, once for a Challenger and for the national tournaments. I like the city. I like the vibe. I feel like people are really warm here. It’s also as they say, ‘the tennis capital of Kazakhstan.’ There are lots of tennis courts and people love the sport here. So I expect to have good support. In general, tennis in Kazakhstan is improving so much and becoming more popular.

All of your best challenger runs have come on clay, yet three of the four Grand Slams you’ve qualified at have come on hard courts. What’s allowed you to break away from being a surface specialist?

SKATOV: It's because I used to practice in Spain for five years. The plan was to play much more on clay, so that's also why. But since this year, I moved to Stockholm, and we practice much more indoors on hard courts. I feel like my game improved to be a bit more aggressive, playing better inside the court, volleys, and also serve. So now, I feel quite comfortable on both surfaces.

I don't want to be this type of player who just play good on clay and cannot do anything on hard courts, or on grass. There are more tournaments on hard, so I have to adapt my game a little bit, which is now working much better than before.

Are you someone who plays with extra pride when representing Kazakhstan, as you’ve done very well in team events the past few seasons?

SKATOV: I think, yes. When I play Davis Cup, I feel like it's my responsibility to represent my country with people watching and supporting. I like mostly to play for the team. I will try to bring my best game here in front of a home crowd.

How important has the national federation been to your tennis journey in making this feel like a career you can go after?

SKATOV: Our Kazakhstan Tennis Federation, especially our president Mr. Utemuratov, they do an amazing job for Kazakhstan tennis in general. In the last 10 years, they opened so many tennis centers all around. They support the young players and our main Davis Cup team. Since (I was) 17 years old, they support me quite a lot. If not for the federation, it would be much tougher, if not impossible to get to the point where I am. They are really important for me.

From your perspective, how difficult is the grind on the ATP Challenger Tour?

SKATOV: Obviously you want to get out from the Challengers as fast as possible. It's much nicer to play on the ATP Tour or in Grand Slams. Still, this is a part which all the players have to pass. You start with Futures, then when you get some level you go to Challengers. Some do it faster, like Alcaraz, Sinner, they got it in a few months and are already in the Top 100. Some guys need a bit more time to mature and improve their game. (I’ve) played Challengers for maybe three or four years, something like this. We have more tournaments at a higher category now, like, 100-125. Most of them are organized on a really good level.

Tennis can be physically and emotionally taxing. How do you as an athlete process the tougher times so you don’t burn out?

SKATOV: Tennis is a really lonely sport. Probably sometimes your best friends is in your team, especially your coach. If you're lucky, you can find some friends on tour. Obviously we train to do it, to help each other, but still, we opponents on the courts. It can be tough. I have my team, which are trying to support me. They are the guys I can talk to. I like reading. I feel when I read more, I start to think better. Just feeling better, so it's a way I try to spend time when I'm not on the court.

Any type of books, in particular?

SKATOV: Sometimes it's more like motivational stuff, sometimes it's just some fiction. Just depends on the mood.

And I’m sure like most others, you take time to watch your peers. Who on tour do you find yourself drawn to at the moment?

SKATOV: There are many players, but the most entertaining, probably I would say is Alcaraz. Guys like Monfils are fun to watch, also. For how they play, I like the Italians. Musetti, I feel like is a guy who really thinks on court. Or Arnaldi. I like how they mix up the pace and do some different things. So I’m trying to take some things from them.

Your Almaty opener: you get Machac, who is producing some terrific tennis and is the same age as you. Thoughts on this matchup?

SKATOV: I know Tomas since a young age. He was always nice guy, I like him. The last year, he’s improved a lot, getting (inside) the Top 30. Especially last week, he's playing at a really solid level. I don’t think we’ve played before. I hope my hometown will help me.