Anastasia Potapova, the Russian-born tennis star, has officially changed her nationality to Austrian after her citizenship application was approved. The 24-year-old, who reached a career-high world No. 21 in June 2023, will now represent Austria in professional tennis and team competitions, starting from 2026.

Potapova Eligible to Play for Austria in Billie Jean King Cup

Russia’s ongoing ban from international team competitions, a consequence of the invasion of Ukraine, had prevented Potapova from competing in the Billie Jean King Cup. By switching allegiance, she is now eligible to represent Austria, opening the door to participation in all team events next year.

Potapova shared the news on Instagram, saying:

“I am delighted to let you all know that my application for citizenship has been accepted by the Austrian government. Austria is a place I love, is incredibly welcoming, and a place where I feel totally at home. I love being in Wien [Vienna] and look forward to making my second home there. As part of this, I am proud to announce that starting from 2026 I will be representing my new homeland Austria in my professional tennis career.”

Becoming Austria’s New No. 1

Currently ranked 51st in the world, Potapova will take over as Austria’s top-ranked player, surpassing Julia Grabher, who sits at No. 94. The switch positions her as Austria’s leading contender in both singles and team events for the upcoming season.

A Growing Trend of Russian Players Changing Allegiance

Potapova is the latest in a wave of Russian tennis players seeking to represent other countries amid restrictions on Russian athletes. In March 2022, she described Russian athletes as “hostages of the current situation,” referencing threats from opponents like Elina Svitolina to boycott matches due to the war.

Other notable nationality changes include:

• Daria Kasatkina, who gained permanent residency in Australia earlier this year.
• Natela Dzalamidze, a doubles specialist, who switched to Georgia to compete at Wimbledon when Russian players were banned in 2022.

Potapova has not competed since the China Open in October 2025 due to injury, but her move to Austria sets up a fresh start for the next season.