Russian-born tennis player Daria Kasatkina has announced her decision to represent Australia after being granted permanent residency by the Australian government.
The 27-year-old, who reached the semifinals of the French Open in 2022 and is currently ranked 12th in the world, has also claimed eight WTA singles titles throughout her career, with her highest ranking being eighth.
Kasatkina had been competing as a neutral athlete since Russian and Belarusian players were banned from competing under their national flags following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In an Instagram post on Friday, she shared her excitement about receiving permanent residency, stating, “I am delighted to let you all know that my application for permanent residency has been accepted by the Australian government. Australia is a place I love, is incredibly welcoming, and a place where I feel totally at home.”
Tennis Australia later confirmed that Kasatkina is now an Australian citizen and will represent Australia in future competitions.
In 2023, Daria Kasatkina revealed that she had fled Russia because she didn’t feel safe as a gay person who opposes the war. Three years ago, she publicly shared her relationship with Russian Olympic figure skater Natalia Zabiiako. For the past two years, Kasatkina has been living in Spain and Dubai.
Throughout this period, she has also been an outspoken critic of Russia’s war with Ukraine.
Tennis Australia confirmed on Saturday that it had been informed of Kasatkina’s permanent residency status in Australia.
In a statement, Tennis Australia said, “Tennis Australia warmly welcomes Daria to the Australian tennis family. Effective immediately, Daria will compete as an Australian, and we wish her all the best for her upcoming tournaments.”
