MIAMI – Russian tennis player Varvara Gračeva applied for French citizenship. The 22-year-old native of Moscow, who has been preparing for Cannes for a long time, would like to represent the new country during the Roland Garros Grand Slam in May. It was reported by the Daily Mail website.
Gračová admitted that she was thinking about the change even before Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine. However, the war conflict hastened her decision. Russian and Belarusian tennis players cannot start in tournaments under their flag, they also deal with complications with travel and visas.
“Back then, no one had any idea what was coming. But now I think, why not? Why not take the chance,” said Gračevová, who has been training in France since she was 16 years old. “However, the decision does not depend on me. My future will be decided by others. I will say more when I have the papers in hand,” she added.
If Gračevová were to obtain the new citizenship, she would become the second highest-ranked French tennis player in the WTA ranking after world number four Caroline Garcia. She currently ranks 54th.
Another native of Moscow, Natela Dzalamidze, who now represents Georgia, changed her citizenship last year. Darja Kasatkinová, who admitted her homosexual orientation last year, is also considering a change.
- Author: © List
- Source: CTK
