20 January 2010

Tennis star Rodionova takes Australian citizenship

Tennis player Anastasia Rodionova said she was excited about playing at the Australian Open as an Australian after being presented with her Australian citizenship at the weekend.

The Russian-born tennis - ranked 95th in the world - was formerly presented her Australian citizenship certificate by Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on Saturday.

Rodionova met her partner, Melbourne DJ Lorne Padman, five years ago during the Australian Open at a local bar and she said she found Australians to be one of the friendliest people in the world.

Rodionova, 26, said: "I couldn't be prouder to face my first opponent at the Australian Open tomorrow as an Aussie”.

The former Russian tennis player has lived in Australia for five years with partner Lorne Padman.

---

The Australian Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people lodge their Australian immigration applications with the Australian Embassy .