Oksana Selekhmetyeva, currently ranked 89th in the world, has officially changed her nationality to Spanish, as confirmed by the Spanish Tennis Federation. This decision comes just before her first-round match against Marta Kostyuk at the upcoming Roland Garros tournament.
The 23-year-old Selekhmetyeva had previously competed under a neutral status, a designation that has allowed Russian and Belarusian players to participate in international events since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Her move to represent Spain reflects a broader trend among Russian female tennis players switching allegiances to other countries. Since the beginning of the conflict, several players have made similar transitions, including Varvara Gracheva to France, Daria Kasatkina to Australia, and Anastasia Potapova and Kamilla Rahimova to Austria and Uzbekistan, respectively.
Despite her new nationality, Kostyuk recently declined to shake hands with Potapova after a match in Madrid, citing a lack of vocal opposition to the war from the former Russian player. This incident underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding athletes from Russia in the context of the Ukrainian conflict.
Roland Garros will mark Kostyuk’s first tournament following her victory at the WTA 1000 event in Madrid. She had previously missed the prestigious Italian tournament in Rome due to injury.
Selekhmetyeva last faced Ukrainian players in September 2025, when she secured a win against Oleksandra Oliynykova in the opening round of a WTA Challenger event in Rende, Italy.
Oksana Selekhmetyeva has switched her nationality to Spanish ahead of Roland Garros 2026, joining a trend of Russian players representing other countries amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. This decision highlights the complexities faced by athletes in the current climate, particularly regarding their affiliations and public perceptions.