“I always feel the support of our compatriots. This is a great joy and responsibility for me,” Elena Rybakina had proudly declared during her 2022 meeting with Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov. These words echoed far beyond Wimbledon’s lawns after she famously pledged allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2018. Opting to represent an entirely different nation has long stirred intrigue in the tennis world, be it Natela Dzalamidze aligning with Georgia to bypass Wimbledon bans or Aljaž Bedene switching from Slovenia after Davis Cup constraints. Now, with the Italian Open looming from 9th May, another twist emerges! Rising 17-year-old sensation Tyra Grant, formerly representing the United States in the WTA tour, has officially chosen Italy as her new tennis nation, adding another compelling chapter to the sport’s ever-evolving narrative of identity and allegiance. But what’s the story behind it?

Grant recently received a single qualifying wild card to the 2025 Madrid Open. She made a notable debut by defeating 80th seed Tatjana Maria in the first round before bowing out in the second. But the nationality switch that has gripped the tennis community overshadowed even that result.

Tennis podcast “Ground Pass” was among the first to break the news on X, posting, “Another player changes the country they will be representing going forward… Tyra Grant who is a 3-time junior doubles grand slam winner will switch from the US to representing Italy starting at the Rome Open. Her mom is Italian so makes sense. 🎾” The move might seem surprising at first, but Grant’s roots reveal the deeper rationale behind her decision. 

Born in Rome and raised in Vigevano, a northern Italian town near Milan, Grant’s connection to Italy runs deep! She trained at the prestigious ‘Piatti Academy’ in Bordighera, also a formative ground for men’s top seed Jannik Sinner. In 2023, Grant relocated to Florida to continue her development, splitting her training between Italy and the ‘USTA National Campus’ in Orlando.

A US Tennis Association (USTA) spokesperson confirmed via text on 30th April that Grant had officially informed the organization of her decision to represent Italy. Concurrently, the Italian Tennis Federation (FITP) announced that negotiations were in progress, with an official statement forthcoming. For the upcoming Italian Open, Grant has already received a singles main-draw wild card.

One of the WTA spokespersons confirmed that the application to change national allegiance has been granted, commencing at the Rome tournament. To change nationality, players simply need to present a valid passport or other proof of citizenship or residency. According to WTA rules, players can only request one nationality change per season, barring exceptional circumstances.

In Madrid, Grant still competed under the American flag. But during the week of 28th April in Rome, as she played in the pre-qualifying doubles rounds, the Italian flag had already appeared next to her name. 

She now joins a growing list of WTA players making similar decisions, most recently, another switch made headlines as a player changed her allegiance from Russia to Australia, underscoring a broader trend in the sport.

“I want to live openly and freely,” Daria Kasatkina shares her intention to switch nationality

The 27-year-old Daria Kasatkina shocked the tennis world nearly a month ago when she officially changed her nationality from Russia to Australia. Having distanced herself from her home country for over 2 years, the former Russian ace is now proudly competing under the Australian flag. She has been living in Dubai while continuing her career on tour, but her switch in allegiance stirred curiosity, especially regarding the “why?”

Ahead of her Madrid Open campaign recently, Kasatkina sat down with Sky Sports. When asked about her experience of changing nationality, she candidly admitted, “Well, that was a bit stressful, I’m not gonna lie,” She continued, “A few days before the announcement or like before the first match with the Australian flag it was, I was nervous honestly because if you think about it, it might not change the game because it’s still go and play but still it’s changing a lot, especially in my mind”

When asked the critical question: why Australia? Kasatkina quoted, “Well, I mean, in my situation, I mean I end up in a situation where I had to make certain choices and if I want to live openly and freely as I want to, I had to make this tough, but I think important and the right, decision for my future and Australia, it goes well with my philosophy. The way I see the life, the way I want to live,”

Back in July 2022, she revealed her “non-binary” identity and her relationship with Russian-Estonian figure skater Natalia Zabiiako, shedding light on the lack of LGBTQ+ acceptance in Russia. 

Now, with Tyra Grant and Kasatkina both making bold nationality switches in recent weeks, one thing is clear: players ultimately choose the country where they feel they belong and can live authentically! Do you feel the same, though? Feel free to share your thoughts down below!