Sesil Karatantcheva plans to switch back from Kazakh to Bulgarian citizenship

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Wilson Blade 9

Sesil KarantantchevaWorld No.180 Sesil Karatantcheva, formerly ranked as high as No.35, has decided to revoke her Kazakh citizenship, which she adopted in early 2009, and get back to representing Bulgaria.

The Sofia-born Bulgarian, who is of Bulgarian origin – her father was a Bulgarian National Champion in rowing and her mother was also a Bulgarian National Champion, in volleyball – opted to represent Kazakhstan when the country, i.e. the Kazakh Tennis Federation, offered her a $65,000 annual incentive for playing for them. Her decision to change citizenship back then was of pure financial nature, and since the conditions have apparently changed, the 25-year-old, best known for her French Open quarterfinal run in 2005, will return to her Bulgarian roots.

Karatantcheva said:

I’m willing to compete for Bulgaria. I think it’s time for me to go home as I am already back in the big tennis. I am prepared and optimistic that I can do well for my country.

Interesting story. I don’t remember any other players switched nationalities back and forth. Do you? (photo: Jimmie48)

3 COMMENTS

  1. Jelena Dokic switched to Serbia and back to Australia … ATP player Alex Bogomolov went rfo Russian to US and back I believe …

  2. I love Sesil!!! She is a wonderful, honest person.
    Ksenia Pervak dropped Kazakh and went back to Russia a year ago.

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