VIENNA — Russian-born Anastasia Potapova has switched allegiance to Austria, clearing a path for the 51st-ranked participant to compete within the Billie Jean King Cup.
Potapova will develop into Austria’s highest-ranked girls’s participant, forward of No. 94 Julia Grabher, with the nationality swap, which she introduced on social media.
“Welcome to the staff,” the Austrian tennis federation stated in a press release that additionally confirmed her transfer.
The 24-year-old Potapova performed on the Billie Jean King Cup in 2018 and 2019, however Russia has been banned from staff competitions for the reason that invasion of Ukraine.
“Austria is a spot I like, is extremely welcoming and a spot the place I really feel completely at residence,” Potapova wrote on Instagram on Thursday. “I like being in Wien and sit up for making my second residence there. As a part of this, I’m proud to announce that ranging from 2026 I will likely be representing my new homeland Austria in my skilled tennis profession from this level onwards.”
Potapova’s highest rating was No. 21 in June 2023. Her greatest Grand Slam result’s reaching the fourth spherical on the 2024 French Open. She has gained three singles titles.
As a youth participant, she was the 2016 women champion at Wimbledon.
Potapova was criticized in 2023 for sporting a Spartak Moscow soccer membership T-shirt throughout a warmup at Indian Wells.
