Elina Avanesyan ordered to compensate Russian federation following nationality change

The National Sports Arbitration Center has ruled in favor of the Russian Tennis Federation (RTF) in its ongoing legal dispute with Elina Avanesyan. The arbitration body upheld the RTF's claim for compensation regarding financial losses incurred due to the breach of a sports training contract. This ruling follows Avanesyan’s 2024 decision to leave the Russian federation and begin competing under the Armenian flag.

According to the judicial resolution, the 23-year-old athlete is required to reimburse her former federation for the expenses invested in her athletic development. The compensation package includes outstanding contractual payments and a portion of the income earned during her professional career. The arbitration concluded that the claims made by the Russian side were justified after months of proceedings regarding the lack of return on technical investment.

“The player will be required to reimburse the RTF for the amounts of damages determined by the NCSA, the compensation of tennis-related income stipulated in the sports training agreement, and other expenses incurred by the RTF,” the RTF press service said in a statement.

Avanesyan’s transition to Armenian citizenship in August 2024 marked a turning point in her career, but she is far from the only player to make such a move. Daria Kasatkina generated headlines by switching to Australian citizenship in early 2025, while Kamilla Rakhimova, Polina Kudermetova, and Maria Timofeeva all joined the Uzbekistan national team later this year. Additionally, world No. 50 Anastasia Potapova recently confirmed her switch to Austria for the 2026 season.

While the legal battle has concluded, Avanesyan's sporting form remains a cause for concern as she faces a difficult transition period. After reaching a career-high ranking of world No. 36 in March 2025, her performance dipped significantly during the second half of the year. Injuries hampered her progress following a first-round exit at Roland Garros, leading to her participation in only a handful of events thereafter.

Since the start of the 2025 clay-court swing in April, Avanesyan has recorded a disappointing 1-7 match record. Her season concluded early at the WTA 125 event in Tucumán, Argentina, where she failed to regain her early-season momentum. Currently ranked No. 118, the Armenian representative enters the new year with a significant amount of points to defend from her 2025 runs in Brisbane and Hobart.

The opening weeks of the upcoming season will be critical for Avanesyan's standing on the WTA Tour. In early 2025, she secured nearly 100 ranking points by reaching the third round of the Brisbane International and the semifinals of the Hobart Open. Failure to replicate those results could lead to a steep decline in the rankings, potentially pushing her outside the top 150 before the Australian Open begins.

The financial burden imposed by the arbitration ruling adds further pressure to a player already struggling with physical consistency. As she continues to lead the Armenian national team, Avanesyan must balance the resolution of her legal obligations with the need to stabilize her professional career. Her ability to navigate these dual challenges will determine whether she can return to the top 50 or continue her current slide down the leaderboard.