When she burst onto the tennis scene in 2004 at age 17, Anna Chakvetadze was in a line of young guns joining the WTA tour with a win against No. 3 Anastasia Myskina at the U.S. Open.
Anna Chakvetadze Turns To Russian Politics As Next Career Choice
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The junior finalist at Wimbledon in 2003 went on to reach a career-high No. 5 world ranking, but eventually fell out of the top 150 due to injuries and illnesses.
Now, Chakvetadze has turned to politics. She is joining the “Right Cause Party” that stands for Russia’s lower parliament. The election will take place Dec. 4. Chakvetadze’s party will need seven percent of the vote to earn seats.
“I would like to develop youth sport. I was a sportsman myself so I know about problems in sport,” the 24-year-old told CNN.
“I would like youth sport in our country to be affordable to people from all social classes. We have to give the same access to sport for kids from poor families. Ideally, my goal is to get the majority involved in sport activities ... sport should come to every family.”
Chakvetadze isn’t the only former tennis player looking for a spot in the next Russian government. Fellow countryman Marat Safin is also looking to take one of the 450 places.
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