VIENNA — Russian-born Anastasia Potapova has switched allegiance to Austria, paving the best way for the No. 51 ranked participant to compete within the Billie Jean King Cup.
Potapova introduced her change of nationality on social media, changing into Austria’s highest-ranked feminine athlete, forward of Julia Glover in 94th place.
The Austrian Tennis Federation additionally confirmed her switch, saying in a press release: “Welcome to the crew.”
Potapova, 24, competed within the Billie Jean King Cup in 2018 and 2019, however Russia has been banned from competing in crew competitions because the invasion of Ukraine.
“Austria is my favourite place, it is extremely welcoming and it feels utterly like dwelling,” Potapova wrote on Instagram on Thursday. “I like Vienna and am wanting ahead to creating it my second dwelling. As a part of this, I’m proud to announce that I will likely be representing my new dwelling of Austria in my skilled tennis profession from 2026.”
Potapova’s highest rating was twenty first in June 2023. Her greatest Grand Slam consequence was reaching the fourth spherical on the 2024 French Open. She gained three singles titles.
As a youth participant, she grew to become the 2016 Wimbledon Ladies’s Champion.
Potapova was criticized in 2023 for carrying a T-shirt belonging to her soccer membership Spartak Moscow throughout a warm-up in Indian Wells.
