Russian tennis star Daria Kasatkina has announced she will now represent Australia in her professional career after gaining permanent residency in the country.
The world number 12 expressed her excitement and gratitude for starting a new chapter under the Australian flag.
Kasatkina, who has won eight singles titles, shared her decision on social media, stating, “Australia is a place I love, incredibly welcoming, and a place where I feel totally at home. I am proud to represent my new homeland in my tennis career.”
This decision comes as Kasatkina continues to distance herself from her home country due to Russia’s strict laws on LGBTQ+ rights and her opposition to the war in Ukraine.
Living in Dubai for the past two and a half years, the 27-year-old previously revealed her sexuality in a 2022 interview, receiving widespread support while facing backlash from Russian political figures.
Kasatkina’s bold stance against the war also led to a call for her designation as a ‘foreign agent,’ though the move was unsuccessful. Reflecting on her transition, she stated, “I will always have respect and appreciation for my roots, but I am thrilled to embrace this new stage of my life and career.”
