WASHINGTON, March 29, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
On the eve of competing in the Credit One Charleston Open, the WTA Tour’s kickoff to the North American clay season, World No. 12 Daria Kasatkina announced on her Instagram Friday evening that she has switched nationalities. Going forward, Kasatkina said, she will represent Australia after gaining permanent residency in the sixth-largest country in the world and the largest in Oceania.
Kasatkina, a 27-year-old native of Togliatti, Russia, who won the 2017 Charleston title, wrote on Instagram:
“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. I love being in Melbourne and look forward to making my home there. As part of this, I am proud to announce that I will be representing my new homeland, Australia, in my professional tennis career from this point onwards.
“Obviously, there are parts of this decision that have not been easy. I want to express my thanks and gratitude to my family, coaches, and everyone who has supported me throughout my tennis journey to date. I will always have respect and fond appreciation for my roots, but I am thrilled to start this new chapter in my career and my life under the Australian flag.
“Thank you all for your understanding and continued support.”
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The outspoken Kasatkina has not returned to Russia in several years, after coming out as part of the LGBT community in a 2022 video interview as well as being a vocal critic against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Kasatkina is in a romantic relationship with Estonian-Russian figure skater Natalia Zabiiako.
This season, Kasatkina has appeared in eight tournaments and compiled a 9-8 win-loss record. She had been the second-highest ranked Russian in the WTA Rankings behind World No. 6 Mirra Andreeva. Her best finish was reaching the quarterfinals in Adelaide prior to the Australian Open. Most recently, Kasatkina lost in the second round of the Miami Open presented by Itau to Hailey Baptiste of the United States, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. Since turning pro in 2014, her career tour-level singles win-loss record is 393-224 and she has won eight WTA Tour titles.
A warm welcome to the Aussie tennis family, Dasha @DKasatkina pic.twitter.com/UvzrC33C1a
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) March 28, 2025
Kasatkina is projected to be the No. 5 seed in the WTA 500 Credit One Charleston Open on green clay, which begins main-draw play on Monday at Credit One Stadium in the South Carolina Lowcountry.
