Dubai: His goal is to be the world number one, just like his idol Roger Federer.

The best he has got so far is No.33, way back in October 2010.

But that does not deter Kazakhstan's Andrey Golubev as he sets about his dual task of scaling up the rankings and ensuring his nation is the best in the world.

"Tennis is changing back home and I am willing to do anything possible to ensure that the sport becomes more popular," Golubev told Gulf News after qualifying to the main draw of the Dubai Duty Free Men's Open on a sand-swept Sunday.

The Kazakhstan Tennis Association is doing so much to ensure the growth of the sport at the grassroots level and I would be more than willing to assist wherever possible," he vouched.

"The association has built so many courts and schools teaching tennis. They have at least one such facility in each of the regions. I have been involved in these programmes for the past few years now and nothing would give me more satisfaction than seeing young players coming through," Golubev added.

Born in Volzhskij, Russia, Golubev switched nationality and officially had Kazakhstan against his name before the Canada Masters in 2008. Both his parents are doctors, and ironically, Golubev has not spent too much of his time either in the country of his birth or his adopted nation following his switch in residence to Bra in Italy when he was only 15.

Golubev's No.33 has been his best-ever ranking on the ATP, but that does not put him off. "My role is to just to set an example for our young players. I want to make tennis a more popular sport. The initial response has been good and I hope to see the youngsters coming through soon," the 24-year-old said.

Going by all the work put in, the results seem to be showing following Kazakhstan's 3-2 Davis Cup victory over the Czech Republic in 2011. However, they faltered earlier this month as Spain blanked them 5-0 in Oviedo in their Davis Cup World Group first round tie.

"We are ranked No.9 and we have beaten one of the top nations [Czech Republic]. But, now the main goal is to stay put in the World Group, but that will be known only in September when we get to know who we are up against in the play-offs," Golubev related.