Australia is the land that beckons. In 2014 Alja Tomljanovic traded in her Croatian citizenship for an Australian one, and Russia’s Daria Gavrilova followed suit by making the switch near the end of last year.
Gavrilova, the world No. 34, fell in love with South Australian ATP pro Luke Saville and with the beaches, coffee and warmth of Melbourne. (Tomljanovic is also dating an Australian, Nick Kyrgios.)
Gavrilova is coached by former Australian touring pro Nicole Pratt and supported byTennis Australia. She first represented Australia in the Hopman Cup with Kyrgios less than a month after becoming a citizen. Australians quickly embraced Dasha as she bounced her way into the Australian Open fourth round. She’s already the nation’s second-highest ranked female.
Becoming a citizen is one thing, but being able to represent your new country in FedCup or Davis Cup is another. A new ITF ruling states that a player has to be a citizen for at least two years to be eligible. Previously, players who had not represented a different country in the last three years could play for a new country.
But Gavrilova appealed to the ITF Board and found a way to play for her new country. Australia’s next tie is against the United States in April.