Russian Varvara Gracheva to Represent France After Citizenship Confirmed
WTA
Varvara Gracheva has officially received confirmation of French citizenship and will soon no longer represent her native Russia in professional tennis.
Gracheva has lived in France for the past five years and received notification of her naturalisation as a French citizen on May 25, according to French national news outlet, L'Equipe. However, the 22-year-old will not be able to represent France at tennis events until she receives her passport, which could take several weeks.
Gracheva, who was born in Moscow, also received a letter of recommendation from the French Tennis Federation to confirm her switch in nationality on the tennis stage. The world number 41 began her citizenship application in 2020 before the Russia-Ukraine began in February 2022 and she then completed her files for French naturalisation on March 5, 2023.
Furthermore, once the 22-year-old receives her passport, she will be ranked as a French player. However, she will be second behind current French number one and WTA number five, Caroline Garcia but ahead of Alizé Cornet and Océane Dodin.
Unfortunately for Gracheva, she will have to wait until 2024 to represent herself as a French national at the Roland Garros for the first time. The world number 41 progressed past the first round with a three-set victory over Dalma Galfi before she was eliminated by Sloane Stephens in straight sets in the second round.
Gracheva also entered the women's doubles draw at Roland Garros alongside Russian player Anna Blinkova. Although, the pair were sent out in the first round after a defeat against Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk and Romanian player Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
The past 12 months have been hectic for the young player as she has entered an incredible 35 tournaments over that period of time. Only three other women's players have played in more competitions than Gracheva in the last 12 months, Reka Luca Jani (38), Carole Monnet (38), and Sapfo Sakellaridi.
Latest Comments
- Kyrgios will do anything to stay in the news.shirley19-12-2024
- A technical error.
MrMustard18-12-2024 - All that is said , all that is done. Nick has 0 grand slams wins. Everything else is hot 🥵 air.MrMustard18-12-2024
- All that is said , all that isMrMustard18-12-2024
- Kyrgios is a jerk.shirley17-12-2024
- If Jessica Pegula had to undergo such horror for using a bannes substance, so do these two tennis players. Penalty should apply to all players regardless of their excuses. They are professionals and know better!!
Stella112-12-2024 - All players should be treated the same for taking banned substances, if your no 1 in the world or no 300 man or woman you should not be allowed to keep playing,,VPH108-12-2024
- Ah, censored again. No one gets to read my comment. LOLjjluvsports08-12-2024
- Reynolds, could you list all the wars started by the U.S. and U.K., or will you run out of paper? Hypocrisy.jjluvsports06-12-2024
- IDK, it looks like to me that Raducanu should praise herself and her team for 'gaming the system' as in playing the points and ranking game. When you look at her season of wild cards, skipping tournaments (including the Paris Olympics!), retiring from losing matches and avoiding qualifying rounds, it seems like there was some plan to move up the ranks without actually playing a lot of tennis. And it worked! Congrats!RealityCheckers04-12-2024