Potapova becomes Austria’s highest-ranked women’s player, ahead of No. 94 Julia Grabher, with the nationality change, which she announced on social media.
“Welcome to the team,” the Austrian Tennis Federation said in a statement that also confirmed its move.
Potapova, 24, played at the Billie Jean King Cup in 2018 and 2019, but Russia has been banned from team competitions since the invasion of Ukraine.
“Austria is a place I love, it is incredibly hospitable and a place where I feel completely at home,” Potapova wrote on Instagram on Thursday. “I love being in Vienna and look forward to making it my second home. As part of this, I am proud to announce that from this moment onwards I will represent my new home country Austria in my professional tennis career.”
Potapova’s highest ranking was No. 21 in June 2023. Her best Grand Slam result is reaching the fourth round at the 2024 French Open. She has won three singles titles.
As a youth player, she became girls’ champion at Wimbledon in 2016.
Potapova was criticized in 2023 for wearing a Spartak Moscow football club T-shirt during a warm-up at Indian Wells.
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