Jean-Baptiste Sarrazin 16:46 pm, March 27, 2023

This is news that could do good for French women's tennis. Varvara Gracheva, a player of Russian origin and ranked 54th in the world in the WTA rankings, applied for naturalization in France. The one who has been training in Cannes since 2016 hopes to have a positive response before Roland-Garros next May.

22 years old, 54th in the world. Varvara Gracheva, a young tennis player of Russian origin, embodies the next generation of women's tennis. And cocorico, she could soon be naturalized French. The Moscow native applied for naturalization with the prefecture after successfully passing the French language test necessary for the application. Her file is now in the hands of the Ministry of the Interior which should make a decision in the coming weeks, the goal of the 22-year-old is to be naturalized before Roland-Garros next May.

It is in France that the tennis player has resided since 2016. Varvara Gracheva has been training at the Elite Center in Cannes for seven years now. This demand has nothing to do with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Russian player has simply taken a passion for France, a country she now wants to represent. In addition, the tennis player continues to evolve in the world rankings. 447th in the WTA rankings in 2018, she is now ranked 54th currently.

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New recruit to the France team?

If her application is accepted, Varvara Gracheva could become the French number 2 in the WTA ranking, behind Caroline Garcia currently 4th in the world. Good news for French tennis in search of a new breath. The world No. 54 represents real potential for the years to come. She recently distinguished herself by dominating the Tunisian Ons Jabeur, 5th player in the world, in the 32nd final of the WTA tournament in Miami. Although she has yet to win a major title on the main circuit, the 22-year-old reached the final of the WTA 250 tournament in Austin in early March.

For the captain of the women's France team Julien Benneteau, this naturalization could be a real added value for French tennis. Varvara Gracheva could represent the France in the matches of the Billie Jean King Cup (formerly the Fed Cup), but also on the occasion of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games which will take place next year from July 26 to August 11, 2024.