Daria Kasatkina, born in Russia, said she was excited and excited to start a new chapter in her career under the Australian flag at the Charleston Open after receiving a permanent residence last week.
The 27 -year -old has been playing on the tour as a neutral athlete after Russian and Belarus players were forbidden to compete under their own flags due to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“Today, the classifications were updated, and it is my first official day as a Australian player,” said Kasatkina, who immersed himself in Australian colloquialism and referred to journalists in Charleston as “companions.”
“Honestly, he feels different, I’m not going to lie. It’s emotional to me. I have to get used to it. But I am very happy to start this new chapter of my life that represents Australia in the great stage.”
Kasatkina, who was born in the western city of Tochatti, has not returned to the country in more than two years after leaving gay and being one of the few players who had spoken publicly against the war.
Russia has designated the LGBTQIA+ movement as an extremist and those who support it as terrorists, racing the way for serious criminal cases against queer people and their defenders.
The number 12 of the Kasatkina world, which lives in Dubai and the trains in Spain, now plans to make Melbourne his home.
“With everything that happens in my previous country, I did not have many options,” Kasatkina said about his decision to change his nationality.
“For me, be openly gay, if I want to be myself, I have to take this step, and I did.”
Kasatkina received a goodbye goodbye and plays Lauren Davis or Jamie Loeb in Charleston’s second round when the 2017 champion will be presented as a representation of Australia for the first time in court.
“I have to get used a little, because for a couple of years I didn’t hear anything,” Kasatkina said.
“But it’s good to get used to.”
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She follows the tastes of Daria Saville and Arina Rodionova, and Ajla Tomljanović (Croatia) to make eligibility switches.
Currently dividing his time between Spain and Dubai, Kasatkina said he is already looking forward to playing at his house, where he reached the fourth round this year.
“The first game will be special,” Kasatkina said.
“Even to Australia every year, seeing how much support the Australian players arrive, I never experienced something like that in my life.
“It’s going to be emotional, sure, but I think I will enjoy it.”
She said she had been welcome hot by other Australian players with her friend Saville (Née Gavrilova), who competed for Russia until 2014, approached regularly.
“She is without stopping … he continues to send me some things like the apartments and the houses around her location,” said Kasatkina, who has a relationship with the Russian ice skatestride of the Natalia Zabiiako Olympic Silver Medal.
Tomljanović, born in Croatian, who changed loyalty to Australia just before Saville, said she was excited to have Kasatkina in green and gold.
“I am delighted, she is an incredible person, an incredible player and I just want you to play for us in the [Billie Jean King] Cup and Olympic Games, “Tomljanovic said.
“I think she fits every Australian, so I’m excited by her.”
Tomljanović beat Kyoka Okamura in Japan in the first round and next the 16th American seed Peyton Stearns.
Reuters/AAP
