Russian Tennis Federation President Shamil Tarpischev admits he is surprised by Anastasia Potapova's decision to switch allegiance to Austria, but also adds it may have happened because the 24-year-old wants to make the next Olympics.
On Wednesday, three-time WTA champion Potapova - who was born in Saratov - announced that she would represent Austria from now on.
Just a few days earlier, Kamilla Rakhimova changed her nationality and started representing Uzbekistan. Earlier this year, Daria Kasatkina took the Australian passport, while Maria Timofeeva switched her allegiance to Uzbekistan.
Last weekend, Potapova competed at the Northern Palmyra Trophies - an exhibition tournament in St. Petersburg. The current world No. 51 said she was thrilled to play in Russia and nothing indicated that she was preparing to start playing for another country.
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Tarpischev on Potapova ditching Russia to represent Austria
"I can't say anything about Potapova. For us, if this isn't a complete surprise, then it's a surprise that she did it. She lived in Austria for two years. I can only assume she wants to participate in the Olympics. She doesn't make our team based on the rankings. She kept complaining about visa problems. It disrupts our rhythm. Purely mundane things," Tarpischev told Championat.
"Athletes don't change their home countries, but their sporting citizenship. Because everyone wants to play. Why do they leave at this time? Because other countries are recruiting for the Olympics and, as a rule, they take our reserves. They pay a lot of money. It's a combination of a person's thinking about how to play better and how to best achieve results. With this attitude, they change their sporting citizenship, but not their home country."
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By switching her allegiance to Austria, Potapova instantly became the Austrian top-ranked female tennis player. World No. 94 Julia Grabher is now Austria's No. 2.
After world No. 112 Rakhimova started representing Uzbekistan, Tarpischev had a similar opinion as the Russian Tennis Federation President claimed it probably happened because the 24-year-old wanted to play in the Olympics, but knew that wouldn't happen if she kept playing under the Russian flag.
