Russian tennis player Alina Charaeva to represent Armenia

Russian tennis player Alina Charaeva has changed her sporting nationality and will now represent Armenia in international tournaments.

The 24-year-old athlete has joined the Talent Pool program of the Keron Development Foundation. Following lengthy negotiations and with the support of the Keron Development Foundation, as well as the Armenian Tennis Federation, Charaeva has officially obtained citizenship of the Republic of Armenia and will compete under the Armenian flag going forward.

Alina Charaeva is currently ranked No. 118 in the WTA rankings. Her switch is a major boost for women’s tennis in Armenia and will help the country strengthen its presence on the international stage.

Charaeva was born on May 27, 2002, in Samara. She holds the title of Master of Sport of Russia and has won one WTA 125 singles title.

At junior level, Charaeva achieved notable results at Grand Slam tournaments. In 2020, she reached the girls’ singles final at junior Roland Garros, and a year earlier she played in the girls’ doubles final at the French Open.

In 2020, Charaeva also rose to No. 12 in the ITF junior rankings. Now one of the region’s most promising tennis players will continue her career as part of the Armenian national team.