Daria Kasatkina says she can be her authentic self after completing her switch to represent Australia last week.
The world No.12 announced last Friday that she will no longer be representing her native Russia after completing her residency application. This week’s Charleston Open will be the first tournament she will play whilst representing Australia.
“Today (Monday), the rankings updated, and it’s my first official day as an Australian player,” Kasatkina told reporters in Charleston. “And honestly, it feels…different. I’m not going to lie. It’s emotional for me. So I have to get used to it. But yeah, I’m really happy to start this new chapter of my life and represent Australia on the big stage.”
Kasatkina, who has won eight WTA titles and reached the semi-finals of the 2022 French Open, felt she had no choice but to switch nationalities due to her sexuality. Kasatkina came out as gay in 2022 and is in a long-term relationship with former figure skater Natalia Zabiiako. Making her one of the most high-profile LGBT players currently playing the sport.
In Russia, authorities have cracked down on LGBT rights in recent years with the use of various laws. In 2013 the country banned the “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships and (or) preferences and propaganda of sex change” to minors before expanding that ruling to the adult population in 2022. For example, videos of same-sex couples kissing or holding hands are banned from TV. In 2023 the “international LGBT movement” was declared an “extremist organisation.”
Furthermore, Russian LGBTQ organisation Sphere claims that 43 bars and establishments believed to be catering for queer people were raided by police between November 2023 and January 2025.
“Honestly with everything that’s going on in my previous country, I didn’t have much choice,” said Kasatkina. “Because for me, being openly gay, if I want to be myself, I had to make this step. And I did it, in the end.”
“Australia is the place where I feel that I can be myself and I really am really happy to have this privilege to be part of this beautiful country.”
Tennis Australia made the first move
As to the reason why Kasatkina has chosen Australia as her new residency, she confirmed that the country’s tennis federation made the move first. Tennis Australia contacted her agency John Morris to enquire about the possibility of a switch before getting it into motion. The process only started ‘a couple of months ago.’
“I think it’s obvious to say that Australia is a very welcoming country, very open-minded,” Kasatkina said.
“I mean, everyone is welcome there. And as I said, Tennis Australia, they also made this step forward to me. We, together, worked through this process and stuff. And of course, without their support and initiative, I don’t think this would be possible. So I’m really thankful to them. And yeah, everything happened pretty fast, and I’m just really happy about it.”
Under current rules set out by the International Tennis Federation, Kasatkina will not be allowed to represent her new country in team events or the Olympics because she has already played for another. However, it is possible that Tennis Australia could apply for an exemption on her behalf.
“I’ve gotten so many messages from my now-teammates and also the representatives of Tennis Australia,” Kasatkina commented on the support she has received.
“I’ve gotten a lot of support, nice messages. Yeah, I cannot wait to meet with all of them in person and talk and go through the process and just go through what happens. As I said, it’s a special moment for me and I was very happy to receive this amount of support and nice messages from them.”
Kasatkina is the fifth seed in Charleston. Granted a bye in the first round, her opening match will be against either Lauren Davis or Jamie Loeb.
