Overview
- The Uzbekistan Tennis Federation confirmed Rakhimova will now compete under its flag and has welcomed her to the national team.
- Rakhimova competed at the WTA 125 in Angers under the Uzbekistan flag and won her opening match 6-1, 6-1 over Alina Korneeva.
- Russian Tennis Federation president Shamil Tarpischev said the move is driven by playing opportunities and Olympic qualification, not betrayal.
- The 24-year-old cites deep family ties to Uzbekistan through her mother’s junior career with the Uzbek SSR and a brother born in Tashkent.
- Her transfer follows a wider wave of nationality switches by Russian-born players, including Daria Kasatkina to Australia and Maria Timofeeva to Uzbekistan, and makes Rakhimova one of only two top-200 players for Uzbekistan.