Varvara Gracheva apparently swaps Russian for French citizenship
Russian player Varvara Gracheva is reportedly on the verge of receiving French citizenship.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Mar 27, 2023, 09:51 am
If you follow the results of the season so far, the name Varvara Gracheva will definitely play a role in women's tennis in the coming years. The 22-year-old, as a world number 95. started the season, has already moved up 40 places and is currently ranked 54th on a personal best. The good results in the USA are primarily responsible for this: Gracheva reached the final at the WTA 250 event in Austin, in Indian Wells played the Russian from qualifying to the round of 16.
But it's not sporting achievements with which the 22-year-old is causing a stir. According to reports from L'Equipe, the Russian is about to change her citizenship. Accordingly, the world number 54. give up their Russian citizenship and swap it for a French one. Gracheva's efforts in this regard have apparently been going on for a few weeks, and the process is said to be nearing completion.
Russian athletes are also under pressure in tennis due to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. In addition to sporting hurdles - such as the exclusion from Wimbledon last year - the mood in the cabins often seems tense. Again and again conflicts between the players due to the Ukraine war to the public. Varvara Gracheva has been training at the Elite Tennis Center in Cannes since 2016 - so choosing the new citizenship seems obvious.