Emerging tennis star Tyra Grant recently switched her nationality from the United States and will now compete professionally for Italy.
The 17-year-old, who is slated to compete at the 2025 Italian Open, recently interacted with the World No. 3 Coco Gauff. The American recently reflected on her interaction with Grant and gave her two cents on the latter’s nationality switch.
Coco Gauff Opens Up on Tyra Grant’s Nationality Switch
Tyra is the daughter of former American basketball player Tyrone Grant. She was raised in Vigevano, a small town near Milan, where her Italian mother, Cinzia Giovinco, introduced her and nurtured her early development in tennis.
The Italian’s notable achievements at the junior level include three doubles Grand Slam titles. She would look to make an impact on her home soil at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, where 2024 semifinalist Gauff will also join her. The duo was recently spotted at Italy’s Trevi Fountain for the Italian Open draw ceremony.
During her pre-tournament Italian Open press conference, Gauff was asked about Grant’s decision to switch national allegiances from the United States to Italy, to which she replied:
“When I first met her, I knew she was Italian. She was very proud to be Italian. She speaks Italian. That was a long time ago. I’m not surprised or anything.I asked her about it and she felt culturally she resonated more with the Italian culture because she lives and trains here,” she said.
The World No. 3 appreciated the idea of athletes having the option to choose their nationality. She added that if she had a strong alternative like Italy, she might’ve considered switching.
“To me, I think it made sense. I think it’s cool to have the option who you want to represent. Yeah, if I had a cool option like Italy, I think they’re a great place to represent, I might do the same. I love being American, too.I think when I talk to her, she’s both. When I see her interacting with Italians here, I’m like, Okay, yeah, I see why she made the change,” she added.
Coco Gauff Placed in the Second Quarter of the Italian Open Draw
Gauff enters the Italian Open on the back of a phenomenal campaign in Madrid, where she finished as a finalist. The American, seeded fourth in Rome, is in the second quarter of the draw alongside seventh seed Mirra Andreeva and compatriot Emma Navarro.
Gauff and Andreeva’s most recent encounter took place at the Madrid Open quarterfinals last month, with Gauff eventually prevailing 7-5, 6-2. Moreover, they are projected to meet in the quarterfinals in Rome, should they advance through their upcoming rounds.
The Russian will start her campaign against Emiliana Arango or Viktoriya Tomova in the second round, while Gauff will face Arianna Zucchini or Victoria Mboko.
