Six More Tennis Players Switch Nationality in 2025

It’s not always that nationality switches in tennis make the headlines, but with a handful of established pros doing so, it is becoming harder to ignore. Whether it’s better funding opportunities or a serene environment that aligns with their mental well-being, tennis players tend to make choices that give them the best chance to compete and succeed.

Earlier this year, four players changed their sporting nationality, and five more have made the switch. And the question right now is what it could mean for tennis going forward.

Five More Tennis Players Switch Nationality

1. Anastasia Potapova (Russia to Austria)

Russian-born WTA player Anastasia Potapova became the most recent case of a nationality switch. Potapova informed her fans and the wider tennis community on social media that her application for Austrian citizenship was accepted. She will play under the Austrian flag from 2026 and will be eligible to represent Austria in team competitions.

2. Maria Timofeeva (Russia to Uzbekistan)

22-year-old Maria Timofeeva confirmed in October that she had changed her sporting nationality from Russia to Uzbekistan, having been granted citizenship of the Central Asian nation. The switch has already taken effect. Timofeeva won her one and only WTA title as a lucky loser in Budapest two seasons ago and reached the fourth round of the 2024 Australian Open as a qualifier. Timofeeva is a former Top 100 player.

3. Kamilla Rakhimova (Russia to Uzbekistan)

Joining the Uzbekistani tennis ranks is World No. 112 Kamilla Rakhimova. The Tennis Federation of Uzbekistan confirmed the news of her switch. Although Rakhimova was born in Russia, her family has close ties to Uzbekistan. Rakhimova’s older brother was born in Tashkent, and her mother was a youth tennis player for the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic. Rakhimova becomes the country’s new No. 1 singles player.

4. Laima Vladson (Lithuania to Uzbekistan)

Lithuanian-born WTA player Laima Vladson is the third player on this list to play under the Uzbekistani flag. The 18-year-old shared the news on her official Instagram account. It could potentially be a career-altering decision for Vladson, who believes she can maximize her talent in a new setup. Vladson is currently ranked at No. 874th in the WTA rankings and won her first pro title in Tashkent 2 ITF earlier this season.

5. Polina Bakhmutkina (Russia to Belgium)

In a list that Russian-born players heavily dominate, Polina Bakhmutkina is another Russian national making the switch. She is now representing Belgium after switching allegiance in late October. Tennis authorities have since ratified her decision. In a post on Instagram, Bakhmutkina said she was “proud to call myself Russian” but regards Belgium as her home.

6. Yannick Theodor Alexandrescu (Romania to France

Alexandrescu, 17, confirmed his switch from Romania to France on social media. Throughout his junior career, Alexandrescu had represented Romania and was considered one of the most promising young talents of his generation back home. But as per his recent post, he has fully embraced the French culture and has set up a training block in Paris ahead of the 2026 season.