Daria Kasatkina ‘Feels Great’ Since Coming Out As Gay - UBITENNIS
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Daria Kasatkina ‘Feels Great’ Since Coming Out As Gay

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1 year ago

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Russia’s top player Daria Kasatkina says she feels ‘more free’ since publicly speaking about her sexuality and has received support from many within the sport. 

 

The world No.12 came out as gay during an interview with Russian vlogger Vitya Kravchenko during an hour-long video which covered an array of topics and also featured Andrey Rublev. Kasatkina is one of the most high-profile athletes from her country to publicly come out. Russia has a ‘gay propaganda’ law which prohibits the “promotion of nontraditional sexual relations” to minors. In recent weeks a group of lawmakers have tabled a motion to expand the law. If it was approved, there would be a ban on public discussion of LGBTQ relationships in a positive or neutral light, and any LGBTQ content in cinemas. 

“I don’t know how the social media filter works, but I’ve just heard very good things,” Kasatkina said during an interview with WTA Insider. “Not just from the west but also people from my country. 
“I’m really happy about it. As I saw, it was not just a good thing for me, also it helped other people. That’s great and I feel great. I feel happy about it and about myself and that’s most important.”

Kasatkina, who reached the semi-finals of the French Open earlier this year, is currently in a relationship with former ice skater Natalia Zabiiako who was part of the Russian team that won silver at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Zabiiako is at San Jose with Kasatkina watching her play. 

“I feel more free and happy,” said Kasatkina. “I think I made the right step. With the situation in the world, all this stuff that is tough, when if not now? Let’s put everything into the same pool.”

Among those to have shown their support is former world No.1 Naomi Osaka who said players rally around her peer due to the possible ‘dangerous situation.’ Referring to the treatment of LGBT people in Kasatkina’s native Russia. Coco Gauff also stated that she believes there is no judgment on the Tour.

“I think in tennis, at least with the girls around, we’re all very supportive of each other no matter the background or identity,” Gauff said. “I don’t think there’s any judgment when it comes to that. 
“I’m grateful that she felt comfortable enough sharing that part of her life. She didn’t have to do that. But I can only imagine how many people in her situation feel inspired by that.”

Historically there have been many LGBT role models in women’s tennis with the likes of Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Amelie Mauresmo and others. However, it is the opposite on the men’s Tour and presently there are no openly gay players. Recently the ATP announced a new partnership with the You Can Play Project to form an LGBTQ+ educational partnership.

Kasatkina is the seventh seed at this week’s San Jose Open. After beating Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the first round, she dropped only four games during her 6-4, 6-0, win over Taylor Townsend on Wednesday.

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Alexander Zverev beats Roman Safiulin to to claim his second title of the year in Chengdu

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8 hours ago

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26/09/2023

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Alexander Zverev came back from a set and a break down to beat Roman Safiulin 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 at the Chengdu Open claiming the 21st title of his career. 

 

Zverev has moved to seventh seventh in the ATP Race to Turin boosting his chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals. 

Safiulin  saved three break points in the 10th game of the first set, which went on serve en route to the tie-break. Safiulin earned three mini-breaks to win the tie-break 7-3. 

Safiulin earned an early break in the second game to take a 2-0 lead. Zverev broke straight back and forced the second set  to a second tie-break. Zverev went up a mini-break three times, but Safiulin pulled back on serve each time. Zverev was two points from defeat at 5-5 in the tie-break of the second set but he won the final two points to win the second set. 

Zverev earned the decisive break in the fourth game to open up a 3-1 lead and closed out the win on his first match point. 

Zverev won his second title of the season after his triumph in home city Hamburg last July. “He is playing the best tennis of his life for sure. The way he was winning this week. I think he beat a lot of great players quite easily, so I think that he was playing well. Obviously, I am happy to be able to come back and to win this title”, said Zverev. 

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Daria Kasatkina beats Marta Kostyuk to advance to the second round in Tokyo

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15 hours ago

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26/09/2023

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Daria Kasatkina came back from one set down to beat Marta Kostyuk 3-6 6-4 6-3 in 2 hours and 24 minutes reaching the second round at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. 

 

Katatkina is playing her first tournament since the US Open, where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round. 

Kasatkina set up a second round match against Greek qualifier Despina Papamichail, who beat Japanese lucky loser Sakura Hosogi 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 in 2 hours and 19 minutes. 

Kostyuk dropped just eight points on serve and broke serve in the fourth game to close out the first set 6-3. The second set featured nine service breaks in ten games. Kostyuk went up a break three times, but Kasatkina pulled back on serve each time. Kasatkina broke in the eighth and tenth games to seal the second set 6-4. 

Kostyuk went up a break twice in the third set, but she was broken back both times. Kasatkina drew level to 3-3, as Kostyuk made a overhead error, and won the final four games to seal the third set 6-4. 

Anastasya Pavlyuchenkova cruised past Donna Vekic 6-1 6-1 in just 74 minutes. Nineteen-year-old Linda Noskova saved one set point to beat Japanese lucky loser Himeno Sakatsume 6-2 7-5 setting up a second round against Anastasya Pavlyuchenkova. 

Ekaterina Aleksandrova came back from one set down to beat Anna Kalinskaya 6-7 (7-9) 6-1 7-5 in 2 hours and 21 minutes setting up a second round against Liudmila Samsonova. 

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Eight of the top 10 players in the line-up in Beijing

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18 hours ago

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26/09/2023

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The China Open, an ATP 500 hard-court tournament, is taking place for the first time since 2019 after a long break due to covid-19. 

 

Eight of the top 10 players in the ATP Ranking are lining up in the Chinese capital. Carlos Alcaraz will face a qualifier in the first round before a clash against either Karen Khachanov or Lorenzo Musetti in the second round. Alcaraz won six titles this year in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid, Queen’s and Wimbledon during a successful 2023 season. 

The Spanish player could face a quarter final against Roland Garros finalist Casper Ruud. The Norwegian player will play against Jan-Lennard Struff, who made his come-back from injury last week in Zhuhai. The German player finished runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz in Madrid and to Frances Tiafoe in Stuttgart in his two finals earlier this year. 

Holger Rune has been drawn in the top draw and could meet Jannik Sinner, who won his first Masters 1000 title in Toronto and reached the semifinal at Wimbledon. Sinner will face Dan Evans, who won the Washington Open last August. Rune, who is currently ranked eighth in the ATP Race to Turin, beat Sinner in the semifinal in Monte-Carlo. The Danish player will face Felix Auger Aliassime in the first round. 

Alexander Zverev will start his campaign against Diego Schwartzman in the first round and is seeded to face Stefanos Tsitsipas, who meets Nicolas Jarry. Zverev won his first title of the season in Hamburg and reached the semifinal in Cincinnati and the quarter final at the US Open. 

Andrey Rublev will take on Cameron Norrie in the bottom half. 

Chinese Next Gen player Shang Juncheng will play against Yoshihito Nishioka in an all Asian first round clash. Shang reached the quarter finals in Washington and Atlanta. 

The most interesting first round matches are: Andy Murray vs Alex De Minaur (Masters 1000 finalist in Toronto) and US Open finalist Danil Medvedev vs Tommy Paul. Murray could face Danil Medvedev in the second round. 

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