Russian-born Tennis Star Potapova Switches Nationality To Austria

Russian-born Anastasia Potapova has switched her allegiance to Austria, paving the way for the 51st-ranked player to compete in the Billie Jean King Cup.

Potapova will become Austria’s highest-ranked female player, surpassing No. 94 Julia Grabher, following her nationality switch, which she announced on social media.

“Welcome to the team,” the Austrian tennis federation stated in a confirmation of her move.
The 24-year-old Potapova competed in 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 welcoming, and I feel completely at home here,” 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 starting from 2026, I will be representing my new homeland,

Austria, in my professional tennis career from this point onwards.”
Potapova’s highest ranking was No. 21 in June 2023, and her best Grand Slam result came when she reached the fourth round at the 2024 French Open. She has won three singles titles.

As a youth player, she was the 2016 girls’ champion at Wimbledon.

Potapova faced criticism in 2023 for wearing a Spartak Moscow football club T-shirt during a warm-up at Indian Wells.