Daria Kasatkina has switched her allegiance from Russia to Australia over her native country’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws. The world number 12 tennis star publicly came out in 2022 and also criticised the Ukraine war in the same interview.
Having had her application for permanent residency accepted last week, Kasatkina will represent Australia for the first time at the Charleston Open in South Carolina.
“It’s my first official day as an Australian player,” she said. “Honestly, it feels different, I’m not going to lie. It’s emotional for me.”
The 27-year-old added: “I have to get used to it. But I’m really happy to start this new chapter of my life representing Australia on the big stage.”
Kasatkina is the only openly gay woman in the top 100 singles on the WTA Tour and is in a relationship with Russian-Estonian figure skater Natalia Zabiiako. Speaking to reporters on Monday, March 31, she shared: “With everything going on in my previous country, I didn’t have much choice (but to switch allegiance)… For me, being openly gay, if I want to be myself, I have to make this step and I did it.”
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While the tennis star has lived in Dubai for the past two and a half years, she will now move to Melbourne after having her permanent residency accepted. In a social media post confirming the news, Daria Kasatkina wrote: “Australia is a place I love, is incredibly welcoming and a place where I feel totally at home. I love being in Melbourne and look forward to making my home there.”
She added: “Obviously, there are parts of this decision that have not been easy… I always have respect and fond appreciation for my roots, but I am thrilled to start this new chapter in my career and my life under the Australian flag.”
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The post received many supportive comments, including from the Australian Open, which wrote: “Dasha Down Under. A warm welcome”.
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