When she saw an Austria flag on the court during her first round game on Sunday, she got “a little goosebumps”. “It feels incredible. I really feel the support of the people. I get a lot of messages from Austria,” said the 24-year-old, who has trained in Austria several times in the past. Among other things, because her former husband Alexander Schewtschenko was looked after by Günter Bresnik in the southern part of the city.
In December, Potapova changed her citizenship to Austria. This came as a surprise to most people, but not to them. “I’ve actually been living in Austria for a few years. So it wasn’t sudden, we worked on it for a long time and intensively. I like Austria a lot, and Vienna especially. It’s my second home and now it’s become my first home. I feel really comfortable there,” said the world number 55.
Successful Grand Slam debut for Potapova
Anastasia Potapova ensured a successful Grand Slam debut for Austria at the Australian Open. Against Susen Lamens from the Netherlands she turned around her deficit and then won in three sets.
Particular preference for Linz
She also feels particularly comfortable in Linz. In February 2023 she won one of her three WTA titles there. This year she also wants to play at the Upper Austria Ladies in Linz in April. “Every year I come back to play this week because it is literally one of my favorite weeks. The conditions there are great. This year it will be on clay. Even better, I love it,” said Potapova.
Potapova celebrated the trophy at the WTA tournament in Linz in 2023
Whether she can also represent Austria in the Billie Jean King Cup is still unclear at the moment. Although she is in contact with ÖTV, she does not yet have authorization. “We’re working on it,” said the 24-year-old.
Potapova justifies herself for post
Potapova, who was born in Saratov, announced her change of nation on social networks in December. Austria is “a place that I love, that is incredibly hospitable and where I feel completely at home,” she wrote in her post. In March 2025, Daria Kasatkina, who was also born in Russia, announced her move to Australia with the same words.
After her opening win in Melbourne, she was asked about the parallel. “I don’t see anything wrong with that, because you can’t put it better. They were the perfect words. My team and I loved it, we all loved it,” said Potapova. Kasatkina also commented on the matter, writing, “No, we are not from the same agency.”
In any case, Potapova doesn’t understand why this is causing such a stir. “I don’t think anything bad happened. I think the media just hyped it up because they didn’t like me and they didn’t like the fact that it happened. I mean, who cares about posts, right?”
Duel with former US Open winner Raducanu
The neo-Austrian would rather concentrate on her second round game instead. On Wednesday Potapova will face Britain’s Emma Raducanu. The 2021 US Open champion, seeded number 28 in Melbourne, beat Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew 6:4 6:1 in the first round.
With Grabher, a second Austrian is in the main draw at the first Grand Slam tournament of the year. On Tuesday she will face Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto, who secured her first WTA title on Saturday in Hobart.
In the men’s singles, Filip Misolic is considered an outsider in the third Monday match on Court 13 against number 14 seeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Women’s singles at the Australian Open in Melbourne
(Australia, Grand Slam tournament, $49.17 million, hardcourt)
James Whitfield is Archysport's racket sports and golf specialist, bringing a global perspective to tennis, badminton, and golf coverage. Based between London and Singapore, James has covered Grand Slam tournaments, BWF World Tour events, and major golf championships on five continents. His reporting combines on-the-ground access with deep knowledge of the technical and strategic elements that separate elite athletes from the rest of the field. James is fluent in English, French, and Mandarin, giving him unique access to athletes across the global tennis and badminton circuits.
