The Elena Rybakina path to glory: Anastasia Potapova's fiance Alexander Shevchenko to switch allegiance from Russia to Kazakhstan
Following in the footsteps of Elena Rybakina, Russian tennis player Anastasia Potapova’s fiance, Alexander Shevchenko, is on track to represent Kazakhstan in the near future. Alexander Shevchenko, the World No. 84 tennis player from Russia, is set to switch allegiance from Russia to Kazakhstan. His fiancee, Anastasia Potapova’s fiancee and tennis player Elena Rybakina, is also set to represent the Asian country. The move follows a trend of Russian tennis players choosing to represent different countries amid the ongoing war with Ukraine. The Kazakhstan Tennis Federation vice president, Yuri Polsky, confirmed that SheVchenko has received a residence permit and is coached by Gunter Bresnik, Dominic Thiem's ex-coach, since he was nine years old. Other notable tennis players currently representing Kazakhstan include Elena Ry bakina and Alexander Bublik.
发表 : 2年前 经过 Pranjali P. 在 Sports
Following in the footsteps of Elena Rybakina, Russian tennis player Anastasia Potapova’s fiance, Alexander Shevchenko, is on track to represent Kazakhstan in the near future.
Born in Rostov-on-Don, a city in southern Russia, Alexander Shevchenko was rumored to have approached the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation regarding an allegiance switch earlier this year.
The vice president of the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation, Yuri Polsky, has now revealed that the World No. 84 intends to represent the country. Polsky also confirmed that the Russian has received a residence permit.
Alexander Shevchenko is based in Vienna, and is coached by Gunter Bresnik, Dominic Thiem’s ex-coach, since he was nine years old. Yuri Polsky hinted that the Russian residing outside of his birth country has worked to his advantage during the application process.
It is worth noting that the trend of Russian tennis players choosing to represent a different country has been on the rise amid the ongoing war with Ukraine. Earlier this year, Moscow-born Varvara Gracheva started competing under the French flag.
The Kazakhstan Tennis Federation vice president Polsky revealed that the body received applications in excess of 100 last year.
With his decision to represent Kazakhstan, Anastasia Potapova’s fiancé is set to join the likes of Russian-born Elena Rybakina, Alexander Bublik and Yulia Putintseva in representing the Asian country.
The 22-year-old, who broke inside the World’s top 100 in April this year, has been spotted in Bublik's company during his matches. Earlier this week, the pair also teamed up for doubles at the Stockholm Open.
"They believed in me" – What Elena Rybakina said about dropping Russia to represent Kazakhstan
Moscow-born Elena Rybakina, who turned pro in 2016, embarked upon her journey as a Kazakh player in 2018. In a 2020 interview with WTA Insider, the 24-year-old revealed how the country’s Federation approached her during a time of financial adversity.
Rybakina recalled that the body believed in her and supported her throughout, even when she wasn’t an established player on the circuit.
In 2022, Elena Rybakina became the first Kazakh player to win a Grand Slam when she clinched the Wimbledon title.
话题: Russia, Tennis, Russia-Ukraine War