Varvara Gracheva: Rising Russian tennis star could represent France at French Open this year
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ByEurosport
Published 29/03/2023 at 17:48 GMT
Varvara Gracheva has revealed she has submitted her paperwork to switch nationality from Russia to France ahead of the French Open. The world No. 54 has enjoyed a quick rise up the WTA rankings in 2023 but has competed under a neutral flag since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Gracheva will switch from Russia's No. 7 player on the WTA rankings to No. 2 for France if her application is approved.
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Varvara Gracheva has revealed her bid to obtain French citizenship, and could even represent the nation at the French Open next month.
The 22-year-old Russian has been on an upwards trajectory in the world rankings and only last week knocked out world No. 5 Ons Jabeur in the second round of Miami Open in straight sets.
Gracheva, who reached the ATX Open final earlier this month, had won 14 of her previous 16 matches before her exit to Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova in the Miami round of 16 on Monday.
Gracheva was born in Moscow, but moved to France at the age of 16 and has trained at the Elite Tennis Centre in Cannes for the last six years.
She took a French citizenship exam in November and filed her application papers this month.
Following the defeat to No. 15 seed Kvitova, Gracheva confirmed her paperwork had been submitted and insists she intended to switch nationality before Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"When I started the process it was not even close to the situation (the war), nobody knew what was going to happen," she told the Daily Mail.
"It's something that we never really aim for. So why not? Why not take the opportunity?
"But the decision doesn't depend on me, there are other people who will decide my future. I will say more if I get my papers. We put all the paperwork in this month.
"I'm doing okay, and my main job is to play tennis. I will be glad to represent maybe both."
The French Open gets underway at Roland-Garros in Paris on May 28.
Gracheva's name was in the headlines earlier this month when Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk refused to shake hands with the Russian after their meeting in the ATX Open final in Austin, Texas, which Kostyuk won.
Russian and Belarusian players have participated at Grand Slams - except at Wimbledon last year - and on the ATP and WTA tours under neutral flags since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in February last year.
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