In the week, Daria Kasatkina, 12th on the world ranking, enters a tournament as an Australian for the first time. The decision to stop representing Russia was necessary, says the 27-year-old ahead of the WTA tournament in Charleston, USA.
I, as an openly gay person, if I want to be myself, I had to take this step. And I did, says Daria Kasatkina.
She was born in Russian Toljatti but announced over the weekend that she had been granted permanent residence in Australia and will settle in Melbourne.
Kasatkina, who has taken eight WTA titles, has previously described Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine as a "nightmare", and has also criticized her home country's attitude towards homosexuals.
With everything going on in my former homeland, I didn't have much of a choice, says Kasatkina about the move.
She feels some nervousness ahead of playing for Australia for the first time.
I'm not going to lie, it actually feels a little different. It's emotional.
But I just have to get used to it. And I'm very happy to start this new chapter of my life.
