“Gracheva may have a French passport, but an irresistible love for Russia” – Chesnokov

The semi-finalist of Roland Garros in 1989, the winner of two tournaments of the Masters series, Andrei Chesnokov, said that he did not condemn the Russian tennis player Varvara Gracheva for her decision to obtain French citizenship.

– Maybe it will be more convenient and easier for her to perform under the French flag. Perhaps Kostyuk and Yastremskaya will start shaking hands with Varya. I do not blame Gracheva – this is her deliberate and balanced decision. She may have a French passport, but at the same time an irresistible love for Russia. She has a lot to do with this country. I don’t see anything wrong with obtaining French citizenship,” Chesnokov told the “Championship”.

Gracheva has been training at the center in Cannes since 2016 and has been living in France for seven years.

The Russian woman takes 54th place in the ranking of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), this is her highest position in her career. She has won seven tournaments at International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments. This season, she reached the final of the tournament in Austin, USA.