Kamilla Rakhimova says switching her allegiance to Uzbekistan was "not an easy decision," but also insists that this move "will not erase my Russian roots."
Just before Rakhimova kicked off her campaign at the WTA 125 (Challenger) Angers last week, Russian media reported that she had stopped representing Russia. Russian Tennis Federation Shamil Tarpischev was contacted by Russian media for a comment, and he said that the world No. 97 "remains Russian" and that she made the move because she wanted to play in the next Olympics.
In her very first tournament as an Uzbekistani player, Rakhimova won five matches and defeated Tamara Korpatsch in the Angers final 6-3 7-6 (4) to lift her first title of the year. Afterward, the former world No. 60 decided to address the talk surrounding her passport change.
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Rakhimova: This move was the best for my career... This change doesn't erase my roots or respect for Russia
"After a lot of thoughts and discussions with my team and family, I have decided to change my sport nationality. This was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the right step for my future in tennis, both professionally and personally," the 24-year-old wrote on Instagram.
"My decision is based on my ambitions, my career goals, and what I feel will give me the best chance to develop as an athlete. I want to stress that this change does not erase my roots or my respect for my previous team and federation. I carry my past with gratitude. But now I am looking ahead to new opportunities, new challenges and new goals."
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Just a few days after Rakhimova stopped representing Russia, Anastasia Potapova also announced that she would play under the Austrian flag from now on. In total, four Russian-born WTA players switched their allegiance to another country this year - Rakhimova, Potapova, Daria Kasatkina and Maria Timofeeva.
