Her name is Anastasia Malhotra. She was born in Japan to a British father whose father was an Indian married to a Greek and Japanese mother, and they decided to keep the Indian surname.

To further the international muddle, the family moved to England just as Anastasia began picking up her tennis skills.

Her surname belies her Indian roots, but actually, this just happens to be the 19-year-olds first visit to the country her grandfather once called home. And the emotional connect appears to be instantaneous. I love it here, she smiles, casting her eyes around the DLTA complex, where she lost in round one of the $50,000 ITF womens circuit tournament.

I called up my parents today and told them I want to stay on here. Ive heard it gets really hot in the summer, but right now Delhi is very nice, she says.

Early interest
The Malhotras returned to Japan sometime back, but not before developing her interest in the game even further.
I started playing because my father used to play, and my parents have been very encouraging all the way. I was with the Lawn Tennis Association in England. In Japan, the situation isnt very encouraging for a tennis player. We have no national federation, and only recently a centralised coaching centre was established, but its just for the top five Fed Cup players, says Anastasia.

Good and bad
Staying in England isnt without its bad points, though. Life is definitely more sheltered in Japan, and theres none of the racism I have to deal with in England. I look different, so Ive faced all that, but the tennis facilities, without a doubt, are much better over there.

Surname muddle
Apart from her battle against the unwelcome tennis atmosphere in her resident country, Anastasia is involved in a fight with the sports authorities to retain her surname. They want me to change it to a Japanese one, but I dont see why I should. I want to keep the surname that I have right now. The fact that I dont play for any tennis club in Japan is also an issue with the people in charge, but Im only thinking about my game.
The 568-ranked player is coached by her father, Roger, and occasionally puts in a few modelling assignments along with her tennis commitments. Its not a big deal. In Japan, if you dont look totally Japanese, you get a chance to model, she laughs.
The focus, though, is only on improving her tennis. Ive learnt a lot about different styles of play by living in England and Japan. In Japan, its mostly baseline play, but in England its quite different. I may move back to England because I think itll be better for my tennis, but Im still in two minds right now.

James wrote:

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The Knight wrote:

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there's a Japanese person called 'Anastasia'?

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Russian mother?

There is probably as simple an explanation as that behind British distance runner Mara Yamauchi having a Japanese surname.

 

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