Russie-Narozena Daria Kasatkina said she was emotional and enthusiastic that after a successful transfer of her loyalty to Australia, she was launching a new chapter in her career.
World no.
Kasatkina, which was published as gay in 2022, was critical of the restrictions and attitudes of Russia to LGBTQ+ rights and strongly opposed the war in Ukraine.
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The fastest female tennis match at all?! The most important points of the 42 -minute victory Daria Kasatkiny over Polina Kudermet in Doha.
“It’s my first official day as an Australian player,” Kasatkina said on Monday, adding reporters like “friends” to accept Australian colloquially.
“Frankly, I feel different, I won’t lie. It’s emotional to me. I have to get used to it. But I’m really glad I set up this new chapter of my life on a big scene.”
Kasatkina was born in the western Russian town of Tolyatti and did not return to the country for more than two years after it came out as gay and was one of the few players who publicly opposed the war.
Russia has determined the LGBTQ+ movement as extremists and those that supported it as terrorists paved their way for serious criminal cases against LGBTQ+ people and their advocates.
Kasatkina, who lives in Dubai and trains in Spain, is now planning to become Melbourne home.
“With everything that happens in my previous country, I didn’t have much choice,” Kasatkina said about her decision to change his nationality.
“For me, be openly gay, if I want to be myself, I have to take this step and I did it.”
As the highest seed, Kasatkina earns the first round in Charleston and opens his tournament by playing Lauren Davis or Jamie Loeb in the second round when she first represents Australia.
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