Tennis player Daria Kasatkina, 28, has acquired Australian citizenship, a development she announced via social media with a picture of her certificate one day prior to the commencement of the Australian Open. Her Australian passport became available for collection recently.
Citizenship Details and Transition
Kasatkina's acquisition of Australian citizenship follows her obtaining Australian permanent residency in March. She has stated that the decision to transition from representing Russia was motivated by a desire to live a full life and find acceptance and support. She had publicly identified as gay in 2022 and has cited the criminalization, censorship, and violence experienced by the LGBTQ+ community in Russia as primary reasons for her relocation. Kasatkina has also previously voiced criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia's involvement in Ukraine.
During the citizenship process, Kasatkina studied for the Australian citizenship test, scoring 100% in December. She has expressed gratitude for the assistance received during this process and conveyed comfort in Australia, considering it a suitable place for living and raising children.
Public Reception and Online Abuse
Kasatkina has reported experiencing ongoing online abuse, which she attributes to her status as a professional tennis player and her public identification as gay. She has stated she is contemplating deactivating her social media accounts to mitigate this abuse. Following a first-round loss at the Brisbane International, her inaugural match on Australian soil as an Australian citizen, she was subjected to online abuse on the platform X, including homophobic comments. She has also noted dealing with criticism from her former nation, describing it as exhausting.
Tennis Career and Upcoming Tournament
A former world No. 8 and French Open semifinalist in 2022, Kasatkina is scheduled to compete against Nikola Bartůňková, a Czech teenager, in the first round of the Australian Open. She described this as her first opportunity to play at a "home Slam" and expressed enthusiasm for participating, highlighting her appreciation for Australia's sports culture and local athlete support.
Recent career details include withdrawing from three major WTA Tournaments late last year due to exhaustion, which resulted in a decline in her ranking. She reached the round of 16 at Roland Garros and Melbourne Park. She has recently demonstrated improved form, including a victory over Maria Sakkari, after initial nerves when playing in front of Australian crowds in Brisbane and Adelaide.
Personal Life and Integration
Kasatkina is engaged to Natalia Zabiiako, a former elite figure skater, whose presence provides her with a sense of home despite constant travel on the tennis tour. Her support team includes Italian coach Flavio Cipolla, Natalia Zabiiako, and fitness coach Jona Segal, whose addition was supported by Tennis Australia.
She has joined a WhatsApp group for Australia's top women's players, observing their supportive communication style. Kasatkina maintains relationships with fellow players, including those with Russian ties such as Maria Timofeeva and Kamilla Rakhimova (who now represent Uzbekistan), Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and Mirra Andreeva, noting that she generally gets along with most players despite differing political opinions regarding the Ukraine invasion. Kasatkina has observed cultural differences in Australia, noting its more relaxed approach, and has developed an appreciation for Australian wildlife, particularly wombats. She has also expressed some positive views on certain aspects of her homeland, specifically mentioning a "Russian mentality" reliability.