Application approved for Russian player Varvara Gracheva to represent France going forward

Russian tennis player Varvara Gracheva has become the first to change nationalities and will now represent France going forward, it has been confirmed.

Gracheva has obtained French nationality and will now be seen as a French player. Albeit the story of the 22-year-old is different than most who may want to apply.

She has lived in France for over five years from 2016 when she was a teenager so is not a sudden move surrounding the war in Ukraine.

She won't represent France until she receives her passport which could still scupper her Wimbledon bid with the likes of Mirra Andreeva and Aryna Sabalenka admitting they are still waiting on UK visas.

Gracheva went out in the second round in Paris to Sloane Stephens. But this year has been a breakout year so far.

She has reached the third round at the Australian Open and her first final at the ATX Open where she lost to Marta Kostyuk. She also reached back to back fourth rounds at the Sunshine Double in Indian Wells and Miami.

This has seen her well inside the top 50. Other players who have considered this include Daria Kasatkina who has not returned to Russia since the outbreak of the war and was seen as a foreign agent meaning she has essentially been blacklisted after her opposition to the war.

She currently lives and trains in Spain and also received criticism from her home country after coming out as gay in 2022 so if she does change nationality, the top Russian would likely change to Spain.

Andrey Rublev also has considered this but this was mainly due to the Wimbledon ban last year.