Daria Kasatkina says she wasn’t left with much choice other than changing her nationality after publicly criticizing the Russian government and coming out as gay.
Shortly after making her maiden Grand Slam semifinal at the 2022 French Open, the tennis star shared during a conversation with a Russian vlogger that she was gay. During that same convo, she spoke out against Russia’s actions in Ukraine and called for peace. She faced a backlash in her home country for her comments and some even called her “a traitor.”
All of that led to Kasatkina obtaining Australian citizenship – she announced the news over this past weekend.
“With everything going on in my previous country, I didn’t have much choice [to switch allegiance]. For me, being openly gay, if I want to be myself, I have to make this step, and I did it. I have to get used to it a little bit, because for a couple of years I didn’t hear anything. But it’s something nice to get used to,” the 27-year-old explained in Charleston.
Kasatkina ’emotional’ ahead of her first tournament as an Australian player
The former world No. 8 didn’t have to wait for too long to play her first tournament as an Australian player since she is taking part at this week’s WTA 500 tournament in Charleston. And she admitted to feeling “emotional.”
“It’s my first official day as an Australian player. Honestly, it feels different, I’m not going to lie. It’s emotional for me. 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 admitted.
As the No. 5 seed, Kasatkina has a first-round bye. In her Charleston opener, she plays against the winner of the match between Lauren Davis and Jamie Loeb.
Kasatkina won Charleston in 2017 while she was runner-up at the tournament last year.
Tennis World USA