World No.12 Daria Kasatkina has detailed her reasons for switching her allegiance from Russia to Australia as she enjoyed her first day ranked as an Aussie on the WTA tour.
“What’s going on…mates?” Kasatkina said as she walked into a press conference at the WTA 500 Charleston on Tuesday (AEDT).
“Today, the rankings updated, and it’s my first official day as an Australian player,” Kasatkina said. “And honestly, it feels…different. I’m not going to lie. It’s emotional for me.”
Kasatkina announced her move last week on social media and expanded on her reasons in her first interview since.
She has been in a relationship with girlfriend Natalia Zabiiako for almost three years and said Russia government persecution of LGBT people meant that “with everything that’s going on in my previous country, I didn’t have much choice.”
“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.”
She said she was approached to gain Australian permanent residency by Tennis Australia.
“Australia is the place where I feel that I can be myself,” she said, “I really am really happy to have this privilege to be part of this beautiful country.
“I think it’s obvious to say that Australia is a very welcoming country, very open-minded.
“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.”
Because she has previously represented Russia in international competitions, Kasatkina won’t be immediately eligible to represent Australia, although TA can apply for an exemption for her.
She is looking forward to the the tour heading back to Australia early in 2026.
“The first match is going to be special,” Kasatkina said.
“Coming to Australia every year, seeing how much support the players from Australia get there—honestly, I never experienced something like that in my life. I’m not used to it, so it’s also going to be interesting to me to see how I’m going to feel coming back to Australia and play as a new Aussie.
“It’s going to be emotional, for sure, but I think I’m going to enjoy it.”
Ajla Tomljanovic, who herself switched from Croatia to Australia in 2013, said she was surprised by Kasatkina’s switch.
“I had no idea, but I’m thrilled,” Tomljanovic said. “I think she’s an amazing person, an amazing player and I just want her to be able to play for us – in the BJK Cup and Olympics. I think that she is an incredible addition. But even as a person, I just think she fits everything Aussie, so I’m excited for her.
“My biggest thing is I was just very grateful – and I’m sure she will be as well. But at the same time: just be yourself, you know? Because she’s already great as she is.”
