Potapova, 24 years old, has been competing on the WTA Tour as a neutral player since Russian and Belarusian athletes were prohibited from representing their countries due to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Since the Russian invasion, players like Daria Kasatkina (Australia), Varvara Gracheva (France), Elina Avanesyan (Armenia), Maria Timofeeva (Uzbekistan), and Natela Dzalamidze (Georgia) have all changed their national allegiances.

"I am thrilled to announce that the Austrian government has approved my citizenship application," Potapova shared on social media this Thursday.

"Consequently, I am proud to declare that from 2026 onward, I will be representing Austria, my new home country, in my professional tennis career."

In 2023, Potapova received an official warning from the WTA for wearing a Spartak Moscow soccer team T-shirt before her match against Jessica Pegula at Indian Wells.

Her gesture was interpreted as a public endorsement of Russia and faced criticism from Iga Swiatek; however, Potapova explained that she has supported Spartak since she was 13 and did not intend any provocation.