World No. 112 Kamilla Rakhimova is the latest Russian-born tennis player to officially change her nationality. The 24-year-old will now compete under the Uzbekistan flag at tournaments.
Her switch marks the third nationality change by a Russian player in 2025, continuing a broader trend that began after the start of the war in Ukraine. In March, Daria Kasatkina announced she would represent Australia, and just over a month ago Maria Timofeeva became the first player to transfer her allegiance to Uzbekistan.
Rakhimova’s and Timofeeva’s switches, coming just a few weeks apart, suggest that Uzbekistan is aiming to replicate the kind of investment strategy that has brought Kazakhstan so much success in tennis.
Rakhimova’s move is not without personal roots. Born in Yekaterinburg, she has been connected to Uzbekistan through her mother, Rufina Rakhimova (née Yalalova), a standout junior who competed for the Uzbek SSR and was among the strongest players of her age group. The family’s ties deepen further, as Kamilla’s older brother, Timur, was born in Tashkent.
On court, Rakhimova achieved her career-high singles ranking of world No. 60 in December 2024. She has collected three WTA doubles titles so far in her career.
“The arrival of Kamilla Rakhimova to the Uzbekistan national team is an event of historic significance. She has already proven herself to be a strong, competitive tennis player capable of playing on equal terms with the world’s top players. We are delighted to welcome Kamilla to our team and are confident that she will achieve great victories, go far, and set new records under the Uzbekistan flag,” said FTU Secretary General Sador Kamilov. (source: Tennis Federation of Uzbekistan, photos: Jimmie48)
