Russian native Artem Sitak, a first round winner at the Wellington futures tournament, is according to reports is applying for New Zealand citizenship. Sitak is currently in New Zealand for the second round of the futures.
The 23 year old (rank 408) is currently resident in Phoenix Arizona but is looking to Auckland as home:
World No 468 Sitak has been in talks with the national body to secure New Zealand citizenship. Yesterday, the 23-year-old beat Hayden Lewis of Barbados and should progress further when he plays a lucky loser or qualifier in tomorrow’s second round.
Tennis New Zealand chief executive Steve Walker accompanied Sitak to a meeting with immigration officials in Auckland recently. Walker wants the Russian for New Zealand’s Davis Cup tie later this year, while for Sitak, a wildcard into January’s Heineken Open and the chance to play Davis Cup would be the main sweetener.
Here Artem Sitak defeated local favorite Matt Roberts (Little Rock, AR) to win a USTA Futures event held at Pleasant Valley Country Club, Little Rock, AR -- April 20, 2008.
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10 responses so far ↓
1 tratamente // Mar 24, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Artem Sitak is a great tenis player and he deserves to be a New Zealand citizen
2 kiwibloke // Mar 24, 2009 at 1:52 pm
It’s funny some of New Zealand’s best tennis players are Eastern European..Marina Erakovic…Pavlina Stoyanova-Nola …
3 baseball tips // Mar 24, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Maybe the sisters will have some competition.
4 powerball // Mar 25, 2009 at 5:33 am
Though Artem Sitak is Russsian native but right now is a great tenis player and if he applying for New Zealand citizenship that he should be given such rights to be a citizenship of New Zealand. And it is the proud for New Zealand to have such great tenis player.
5 tenisit // May 3, 2009 at 11:55 am
Yes I completely agree, he should be given the citizenship and I really do not understand why they are so strict about it. It is better to give the citizenship to sincere sportsman than to some work seeking emigrant.
Sport is a good way to promote a country therefore sportsman should be respected.
6 Rod from tennis ball machines // Jul 16, 2009 at 1:38 am
@Kiwibloke: D’you know, I was thinking the exact same thing (about all the eastern European immigrants)
Still, the USA’s been doing it forever, so why not?
Rod@tennis ball machines´s last blog ..Lobster tennis ball machines
7 Abe from Vans Tennis Shoe // Nov 19, 2009 at 3:25 am
A sportsperson cannot be classified as a normal immigration application. He should be given the citizenship, they are creating problems unnecessarily.
Abe@Vans Tennis Shoe´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at
8 blair from livetennisscores // Nov 20, 2009 at 8:08 am
I just cant believe that Andre Agassi’s mullet was a wig. Shattered!!
9 monikaSEO from Bingo Hall // Nov 23, 2009 at 6:48 am
thanks for sharing this post came to know about various things.thanks,
monikaSEO@Bingo Hall´s last blog ..Bingo Chat Phrases
10 Gas // Dec 21, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I know Marina Erakovic. She was born in Split, Croatia. Beautiful country.
Gastritis diet´s last blog ..Symptoms of inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis)
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