Russian tennis player Kamilla Rahimova has officially joined the Uzbekistan national tennis team, as announced by the Uzbekistan Tennis Federation. This significant move is expected to bolster the strength of the women’s national team, with Rahimova currently holding the 109th position in the WTA rankings.
Shamil Tarpishchev, the President of the Russian Tennis Federation, commented on the transfer, clarifying that Rahimova’s decision should not be viewed as a betrayal. He explained that her change in sporting nationality stems from her desire to continue her professional career, stating, “She would not have been able to join our national team. However, with Uzbekistan, opportunities exist.” Tarpishchev also pointed out that despite the transfer, qualifying for the upcoming Olympics would require Rahimova to be within the top 60–70 players in the WTA rankings.
Born on August 28, 2001, in Yekaterinburg, Russia, the 24-year-old Rahimova has achieved notable success, securing three WTA doubles titles in her career, with her highest singles ranking reaching 60th. As she aims to further her career, Rahimova is currently competing in the WTA 125 tournament in Angers, France, where she started strong by defeating Alina Korneeva from Russia in the first round with an impressive score of 6:1, 6:1.
Rahimova’s move is particularly significant as she becomes one of only two Uzbekistani players ranked in the top 200 of the WTA standings. Her addition to the Uzbekistan team could provide new opportunities for the national squad and bring fresh enthusiasm to their future competitions.