Ukrainian tennis player Nikita Belozertsev has changed his sporting nationality. He will now compete under the flag of Uzbekistan, the Uzbekistan Tennis Federation announced.

The 17-year-old Belozertsev was Ukraine's top junior in the ITF rankings and currently holds the 13th spot in the overall rankings. Last year, he won his first professional title at the ITF M15 tournament in Serbia.

'The arrival of Nikita Belozertsev to the national team will increase the potential of Uzbek tennis on the international stage,' the federation said in a statement.

Over the past year, several Russian tennis players have also switched to Uzbekistan, including Maria Timofeeva, Kamilla Rakhimova, and Polina Kudermetova.

Source: kun.uz