Finland’s top female tennis players Anastasia Kulikova and Laura Hietaranta happily hug when they see each other at the Tali Tennis Center. Both have come to play in Helsinki’s new $25,000 professional tournament.
– It’s great that a women’s professional competition has been brought to Helsinki. I’m really looking forward to playing, Hietaranta said.
– Here is one of my favorite atmospheres and my favorite audiences. I want to be in front of the home crowd as much as possible, Kulikova stumbled.
Kulikova, 24, and Hietaranta, 20, are at different stages of their tennis careers, but both live the tough everyday life of a tennis professional, where competitions follow each other week after week in different parts of the world. Both are also playing, at least for the time being, in smaller ITF tournaments, from which the glamor is far away.
Hietaranta has clear goals
Another full season as a professional has started on Hietaranta. The junior career included, among other things, a place in the final in Wimbledon doubles and two semi-finals in the Orange Bowl, the unofficial World Championship tournament for juniors.
In his junior days, Hietaranta was above all a good mover and a very confident player from the backfield. However, it may not be enough on professional courts.
– My game has started to change in a more aggressive direction. I feel that I am now a better player in all areas. The palm and the first pass have been worked on a lot. They have been my two biggest development targets and they have progressed wildly, Hietaranta said.
The Hietataranta team includes an Italian in charge of tennis coaching Alessandro Sarra and physical trainer and manager Pirpa Jacket.
Hietaranta has several “bases” where he trains between tournaments and from which he moves from one tournament to another. In addition to Helsinki, they include Dubai, Rome, Sarajevo and Barcelona. There are a lot of tournaments around Europe, so it doesn’t make sense to visit Finland every now and then.
Sarra is not Hietaranta’s personal trainer. Such a person is supposed to be hired when the ranking is in the top 200. Sarra also doesn’t participate in all the competitions, but Hietaranta also travels alone a lot.
Hietaranta has won two ITF tournaments in singles and five in doubles. In doubles, the title taken in Sunderland at the beginning of this year came from a bigger tournament, on the level of Helsinki.
Hietaranta’s ranking is currently 457. Due to last spring’s injury, this spring he has almost no points to defend, so there is a good chance to raise the ranking. The goals are clear and they require a strong rise.
– This year’s goal is to play the Grand Slam qualifiers and top 200 ranking. Next year the ranking will go up from that and within two or three years the top 100 and the Grand Slam main series places.
Back problems were Kulikova’s annoyance
Originally from Russia, Kulikova came to Finland when she was 13 years old Jarkko Nieminen to the academy. She received Finnish citizenship at the age of 19 in 2019. The left-handed, hard-hitting Kulikova has a lot of potential, but injuries have been a nuisance.
In 2022, Kulikova played in the Grand Slam tournament qualifiers and was ranked 179th in the world ranking at her best. Even then, back problems were already bothering her.
– I have been suffering from back problems since November 2021. I continued playing because I got good results. But then I had to stop when I couldn’t even walk. Recovery took almost a year and a half, it disturbed every tournament, Kulikova said.
– For the last four months or so, my back has been fine, but it will take time before I get into a proper game rhythm.
Kulikova has lived in Serbia for the past two years. His current coaching team is from Serbia. Kulikova has received help for her back problems there from an interesting party.
– I was very lucky. I got help From Novak (Djokovic) and his physique. Novak helped me a lot. Thanks to him, even if he doesn’t watch this, Kulikova laughed when the interview was done for Urheiluruut.
Kulikova has won a total of nine ITF tournaments in singles and two in doubles. The ranking now shows a reading of 349 and at the moment he has not set himself any successful goals.
– The goal is to stay healthy and get back into the rhythm. Now I’m not thinking about Grand Slams or anything like that.
Davis Cup success also helps women’s tennis
The Finnish men’s Davis Cup team has been sailing in a fierce tailwind lately. Last year, Finland was in the top four. This year also started with a victory over Portugal and a place in the top 16.
– It has been wonderful to watch the success of the men’s national team. It has brought tennis to the fore in Finland and it also boosts women’s national team activities. It has been really motivating to see that a small tennis country has the opportunity to push to the top of the world, Hietaranta said.
The Finnish Tennis Federation has received a significant amount of money from the Davis Cup success. The association does not say the amount, but the money is used for many purposes, including women’s tennis. Organizing this week’s tournament was one measure to support women’s tennis.
– One big development target for us is investing in women’s tennis. This week’s tournament is one of the actions that have been taken. We do development activities for tennis and give women opportunities to play in Finland, CEO of Tennisliito Teemu Purho said.
Hietaranta was grateful for bringing the tournament to Finland and also for the national team camp, which was held during the tournament.
The women’s national team plays at a significantly lower level than the men’s in the Billie Jean King Cup. Finland practically plays a one-week tournament once a year. It is also a nice opportunity for the national team players to be together.
Hietaranta and Kulikova have a good time together, although they usually go around the games on their own. Messages are sent if funny things come across.
– Laura is an incredible fighter, Kulikova praised.
– Nastia is quite real and tough on the field, a really tough player. I admire the attitude he brings to the field, Hietaranta stated.
Outside the field, however, both are completely different, relaxed, happy and laughing.
In Helsinki, both careers ended in the opening round of the singles. Hietaranta is still participating in the doubles.
Then the journey continues towards the next tournament.