Daria Kasatkina criticized the Russian government publicly before switching her nationality as the 27-year-old said two years ago that it was “unsafe” for her to return to Russia due to her sexual orientation but also her views on the war.
Only a couple of months after the Russia and Ukraine war started, the world No. 12 announced in 2022 July that she was gay during a conversation with a Russian blogger. She also used the opportunity to make it clear that she didn’t support Russia and its “special operation” in Ukraine.
Shortly after, a report came out that a Russian politician wanted Kasatkina to be listed as “a foreign agent” – that would pretty much label the tennis star as a traitor in her home country. In the end, that wasn’t approved but the 2022 French Open semifinalist still didn’t feel comfortable at all about the prospect of going back to Russia.
Kasatkina’s comments from 2023: It unsafe for me to go back to Russia under these circumstances
“It’s unsafe for me now, with the regime we have. As a gay person who opposes the war, it’s not possible to go back. But I don’t regret it even 1 percent. When the war started and everything turned to hell, I felt very overwhelmed and I just decided: F— it all! I couldn’t hide it anymore,” the former world No. 8 told The Times in 2023.
“I wanted to say my position on the war and my sexuality, which was tough, coming from a country where being gay is not accepted, but it felt like I had a backpack of stones on my shoulders and I just had to throw it off! Afterwards, I faced a few consequences, but the only thing that worried me was my parents, and they were fine. They are proud of me.”
This weekend, Kasatkina – who was born in Tolyatti and turned pro in 2014 – announced that she would be representing Australia from now on.
