“I am pleased to inform you all that my application for citizenship has been accepted by the Austrian government,” the world number 51 wrote. “Austria is a country that I love, it is incredibly hospitable and a place where I feel completely at home. I love being in Vienna and look forward to creating my second home there.”
With the start of the 2026 season, the flag next to her name will officially be the Austrian flag.
Potapova becomes the fourth Russian WTA player to change nationality in 2025Following Daria Kasatkina, who is now competing for Australia, and Maria Timofeeva and Kamilla Rakhimova, who both became citizens of Uzbekistan.
When Potapova married fellow tennis pro Alexander Shevchenko in December 2023, the two were seen as a rising Russian power couple. Now that their love story is behind them, they even represent different countries: Shevchenko switched to Kazakhstan in 2024.
Potapova’s career-high singles ranking is No. 21, reached in June 2023. She has captured three WTA singles titles (Istanbul 2022, Linz 2023 and Cluj-Napoca 2025) and three doubles titles.
#Russian #Anastasia #Potapova #play #Austria #Tennis #blog #women