Daria Kasatkina Switches Nationality to Australia
Daria Kasatkina, former Russia’s top female tennis player, has declared that she will now compete for Australia. The 27-year-old athlete made this announcement following her public opposition to the conflict in Ukraine and her coming out as gay. Since then, she has not returned to Russia.
Announcement on Instagram
Kasatkina shared her decision in an Instagram post written in English, stating that she has acquired permanent residency in Australia and feels completely at home in her new country. She expressed her enjoyment of living in Melbourne and her excitement to represent Australia in her professional tennis career.
Career Highlights
Despite living abroad, Kasatkina had been the highest-ranked Russian female player until recently, when she was surpassed by rising star Mirra Andreeva. Currently, she is ranked 12th in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) standings and has won eight WTA titles, reaching eight finals in 2023 alone.
Previous Achievements
The athlete, who hails from Tolyatti in Western Russia, previously achieved notable success with the Russian national team, securing a silver medal in doubles at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games and a title at the 2021 Billie Jean King Cup.
Life Changes and Challenges
Kasatkina publicly came out as gay during an interview in the summer of 2022, where she also condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine. She later expressed that returning to Russia is perilous for her, given the current political atmosphere, and she has no regrets about her decisions.
Criticism from Russian Officials
Kasatkina’s nationality change has sparked backlash from some former Russian athletes and lawmakers. Notably, Alexander Tikhonov, a four-time Olympic biathlon champion, labeled her a traitor. Other politicians, including state Duma deputy Viacheslav Fetisov, expressed sadness over her transition and suggested that her upbringing contributed to her decision.
Support from Australian Tennis Community
In contrast to the criticism she has faced in Russia, Tennis Australia has welcomed Kasatkina, featuring her career on their official website and wishing her well in future tournaments as she begins her new journey representing Australia.
