Russian-born tennis star Daria Kasatkina has spoken candidly about her decision to compete for Australia, saying it was a necessary step due to her sexuality and the political climate in her home country.
Kasatkina, currently ranked No. 12 in the world, recently announced that she has been granted permanent residency in Australia. She made her debut representing her new country at the Charleston Open, marking a significant personal and professional milestone.
“With everything going on in my previous country, I didn’t have much choice,” Kasatkina told Reuters. “For me, being openly gay, if I want to live freely and be myself, I had to make this step—and I did.”
The 27-year-old came out as gay in July 2022 and is in a relationship with figure skater Natalia Zabiiako. Her decision comes amid increasing repression of LGBTQ rights in Russia. While same-sex relationships were decriminalized there in 1993, a 2013 “gay propaganda” law has since been used to silence and marginalize LGBTQ voices. In 2022, President Vladimir Putin expanded this law, banning the promotion of same-sex relationships and non-heterosexual identities altogether.
Organizations like ILGA-Europe now rank Russia as the worst country in Europe for LGBTQ individuals, behind Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Kasatkina, who has lived in Spain and Dubai in recent years while competing under a neutral flag due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, says the move to Australia offers a new sense of safety and belonging. On Instagram, she shared her excitement about settling in Melbourne, calling it “a place I love, incredibly welcoming, and where I feel totally at home.”
Ahead of her second-round match in Charleston, she admitted that the change has been emotional.
“Honestly, it feels different. I’m not going to lie—it’s emotional for me,” she said. “I have to get used to it. But I’m really happy to start this new chapter representing Australia on the big stage.”
In her first match under the Australian flag, Kasatkina defeated American Lauren Davis 6-1, 6-1. Despite the dominant scoreline, she described the experience as “stressful.”
“Going on court today as an Aussie for the first time was stressful, honestly,” she said during a post-match interview with Tennis Channel. “This whole week has been filled with changes and feedback—it’s been intense. But when a tennis player steps on the court, all that stress just explodes. I’m really proud of how I handled it today.”
Kasatkina also shared a touching moment from earlier in the week: watching Tennis Channel and seeing her name listed with an Australian flag for the first time.
“My reaction was just, ‘Oh my God!’” she recalled. “It’s such a special moment for me to win my first match as an Australian player. I’m just really happy. I never thought something like this could happen to me.”