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Elina Avanesyan, a rising star of tennis currently ranked 58th in the WTA rankings, will represent Armenia at this year's Cincinnati Open and US Open after being granted citizenship, PR Newswire reported.

The 21-year-old said she was "extremely proud to represent the Armenian flag" at the tournament and hoped to bring "significant success in the world of tennis" to her ancestral homeland.

Born in Pyatigorsk, Russia, to Armenian parents originally from Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh, Avanesyan has strong and long-standing links to her cultural heritage. Her childhood was heavily focused around Armenian traditions, and she made several trips to her family's homeland. Avanesyan also secured her first tournament victory in junior tennis in Yerevan, the country's capital.

Avanesyan hopes to become a role model for young Armenian athletes. "I dream of being an inspiration for Armenian citizens, especially amongst younger generations," she said.

"I want to be a role model for aspiring athletes and encourage young people to take up sport. My goal is to strengthen tennis in Armenia and ignite a passion in a new generation of athletes."

Avanesyan is optimistic about her chances at this year's upcoming tournaments, which begin from August 11.