Overview
- Potapova announced the move on Instagram, and the Austrian Tennis Federation welcomed her and confirmed she will compete for Austria starting in the 2026 season.
- Once the switch takes effect, she becomes Austria’s top‑ranked woman ahead of Julia Grabher; her career high is No. 21 with three WTA singles titles.
- The change opens the door for Billie Jean King Cup selection, with Russia barred from team competitions since 2022 and Potapova’s last appearances in 2018–2019.
- Reactions in Russia were sharp, with former world No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov saying “good riddance,” while federation president Shamil Tarpischev called the decision a surprise and suggested Olympic ambitions and visa issues.
- Her decision follows a broader trend of switches by Russian‑born players, including Daria Kasatkina (Australia), Varvara Gracheva (France), Maria Timofeeva and Kamilla Rakhimova (Uzbekistan), and Natela Dzalamidze (Georgia).