VIENNA (AP) — Russian-born Anastasia Potapova has switched allegiance to Austria, clearing a path for the 51st-ranked player to compete in the Billie Jean King Cup .

Potapova will become Austria’s highest-ranked women’s player, ahead of No. 94 Julia Grabher, with the nationality switch, which she announced on social media.

“Welcome to the team,” the Austrian tennis federation said in a statement that also confirmed her move.

The 24-year-old Potapova played at the Billie Jean King Cup in 2018 and 2019, but Russia has been banned from team competitions since the invasion of Ukraine .

“Austria is a place I love, is incredibly welcoming and a place where I feel totally at home,” Potapova wrote on Instagram on Thursday. “I love being in Wien and look forward to making my second home the

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