Tennis has seen several notable nationality changes in recent years, and 2025 Wimbledon women's doubles champion Veronika Kudermetova’s sister, Polina Kudermetova, is the latest to take that step. The young player has switched her allegiance from Russia to Uzbekistan.Polina has joined a growing list of former Russian WTA players who have opted to represent different countries in the aftermath of the Ukraine war. According to the WTA profile of the 22-year-old tennis star, she has switched allegiance to Uzbekistan.In recent years, since Russia has faced a ban due to the Ukraine war, Russian tennis has faced challenges linked to funding, limited domestic tournaments, and fewer development opportunities at home.At the same time, several emerging tennis nations have strengthened their investment in the sport. Federations such as Uzbekistan’s have focused on supporting players and offering clearer pathways to international competition.Just before Polina Kudermetova's switch, Maria Timofeeva and Kamilla Rakhimova also made a similar move. Earlier in 2025, Daria Kasatkina, who was vocal about being against the Russia-Ukraine war, switched to Australian nationality. Meanwhile, Anastasia Potapova will be representing Austria in 2026."It’s unfortunate, but I had to make it" - Tennis star Daria Kasatkina on switching nationality to Australia from RussiaDaria Kasatkina at the 2025 China Open - Source: GettyDaria Kasatkina represented Russia for years before officially switching allegiance to Australia in March 2025. Changing nationality was not an easy choice, but it was one she felt was necessary for her future.She is one of the few Russian-born players to openly criticize Russia’s war with Ukraine, and has also spoken about the difficulties of living freely as an openly gay woman in her country of birth. Those realities played a major role in her decision to seek a new start elsewhere.In an interview with The Guardian, Kasatkina acknowledged the emotional weight of the decision, noting that her family supported her choice as long as she was happy."It’s never easy to do something like that. But I am very conscious when I am making this step that I know this is better for my future. I ended up in the situation where I have to make this choice. It’s unfortunate, but I had to make it and I’m happy with the decision," she said.In recent months, she said she has felt lighter and freer, convinced that the decision has brought her peace and clarity.