Daria Kasatkina, the world No. 12 tennis player, has officially become part of the Australian tennis scene after securing permanent residency. The Russian-born athlete, who has been competing as a neutral player since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, will now represent Australia on the court.
Kasatkina confirmed on Saturday that her application for permanent residency was approved by the Australian government. She is set to play for her new country at the Charleston Open next week. This move makes her Australia’s new top-ranked female tennis player, following Ash Barty’s retirement.
For over two years, Kasatkina has played on the tennis tour without representing a nation, after Russian and Belarusian players were banned from competing under their flags. The 27-year-old, who has publicly opposed the war in Ukraine, has also spoken about the difficulties of returning to Russia. She cited both her sexual orientation and her stance on the war as reasons for not being able to return home. Kasatkina has been in a relationship with figure skater Natalia Zabiiako.
In an Instagram post on Saturday, Kasatkina shared her excitement about the move. “Australia is a place I love, and I feel totally at home here,” she said. “I’m excited to make Melbourne my home and start this new chapter of my career under the Australian flag.”
Kasatkina expressed gratitude to her family, coaches, and supporters, acknowledging that while the decision wasn’t easy, she’s looking forward to this new phase in her life. “I will always respect my roots, but I am thrilled to represent Australia now,” she said.
Tennis Australia quickly welcomed her to the country’s tennis family. A spokesperson confirmed, “Daria Kasatkina has been granted permanent residency, and we are excited to have her compete as an Australian immediately. We wish her all the best in her upcoming tournaments.”
Kasatkina, who previously reached No. 8 in the world, has won eight WTA titles. Her best Grand Slam result was reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 French Open. She joins other players like Daria Saville and Ajla Tomljanovic, who have switched nationalities to compete for Australia.
Kasatkina will now be Australia’s No. 1 female player, leading a group that includes Kim Birrell, Maya Joint, and Tomljanovic. Her recent success includes reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open and being a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist. Kasatkina was also part of the Russian team that won the Billie Jean King Cup in 2020-21.
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