Daria Kasatkina’s Bold Move: From Russia to Australia
Tennis star Daria Kasatkina has made headlines by switching her allegiance from Russia to Australia, citing a desire for a fresh start and a new chapter in her life. The former Russian player, now the Australian No.1, has not set foot in her native country for over two years, opting to live in Dubai and train in Spain instead.
Kasatkina, ranked World No.12 in the WTA, publicly came out as gay a few years ago and has been an outspoken critic of the Russian government, particularly regarding their actions in the war against Ukraine. Facing backlash and potential consequences for her views, Kasatkina decided to make the bold move to switch nationalities, a decision she revealed on social media three days ago.
In a recent press conference ahead of her match at the Charleston Open in South Carolina, Kasatkina expressed mixed emotions about her allegiance switch, stating, “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.”
The 27-year-old tennis player, who reached a career-high ranking of World No.8, emphasized the importance of being true to herself, especially as an openly gay individual. Despite concerns about potential repercussions from the Russian Tennis Federation, Kasatkina remains focused on her future in Australia, a country she describes as incredibly welcoming and where she feels at home.
Kasatkina is not the only player to switch nationalities in recent years, joining the likes of Natela Dzalamidze and Alexander Shevchenko who now represent different countries on the tennis circuit. As she embarks on this new chapter of her career, Kasatkina’s journey from Russia to Australia is sure to captivate fans and critics alike.