Daria Kasatkina Begins New Chapter as Australian Player at Charleston Open

Posted : 01 April 2025

Daria Kasatkina, who recently received Australian permanent residency, expressed her excitement and emotions as she began a new chapter in her career at the ongoing Charleston Open. The 27-year-old Russian-born player has been competing as a neutral athlete since 2022, when Russian and Belarusian players were banned from representing their countries due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

With her newfound Australian status, Kasatkina shared that it felt "different" and emotional, acknowledging the significant shift in her life and career. "It's my first official day as an Australian player," she said, referring to reporters as "mates" in a sign of her growing connection to her new home.

Kasatkina, born in Tolyatti, Russia, has not returned to her home country in over two years, partly due to her outspoken stance against the war and her decision to publicly come out as gay. Russia's government has taken a harsh stance on the LGBT movement, designating it as extremist and criminalizing its supporters.

This environment led Kasatkina to seek a new national identity, as she explained that being openly gay in Russia left her with little choice but to make this move for her personal and professional well-being.

Ranked world No. 12, Kasatkina, who currently resides in Dubai and trains in Spain, now plans to settle in Melbourne, where she hopes to find more freedom to express herself. The decision to switch nationalities was a difficult but necessary step for her, given the circumstances in her home country. "For me, being openly gay, if I want to be myself, I have to make this step, and I did it," she said.

Her new chapter includes representing Australia on the WTA stage, starting with her participation in the Charleston Open, where she has received a first-round bye and will face either Lauren Davis or Jamie Loeb in the second round.

As she prepares to play her first match as an Australian player, Kasatkina admitted that it would take some time to adjust. "I have to get used to it a little bit, because for a couple of years I didn't hear anything," she said.

Nonetheless, she is looking forward to embracing this change, calling it "something nice" that will ultimately enhance her experience both on and off the court. This marks a significant moment in Kasatkina’s career, as she moves forward representing Australia with pride and anticipation for what’s ahead.

Daria Kasatkina Begins New Chapter as Australian Player at Charleston Open

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