“I Want To Be Myself”: Lesbian Tennis Star Daria Kasatkina Leaves Russia Behind For Good
Australia welcomes Daria Kasatkina as she officially defects from Russia to live and compete freely.
Daria Kasatkina is one of the brightest stars in women’s tennis, her talent and skills earning her a spot among the world’s top players. But while her career has flourished, her personal life has been shaped by challenges far beyond the court—ones that ultimately led her to leave Russia behind for a new home in Australia.
The 27-year-old, who came out as a lesbian in 2022, has long been outspoken about her sexuality, as well as her opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But in a country where LGBTQ+ rights are increasingly under siege and where dissent against the government can lead to serious consequences, Kasatkina found herself in an untenable situation.
Now, she has taken a life-changing step: leaving Russia behind and making Australia her new home.
Kasatkina recently announced that her application for permanent residency in Australia had been accepted, allowing her to officially represent her “new homeland” on the international tennis circuit. The decision, she admitted, was not made lightly.
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“With everything going on in my previous country, I didn’t have much choice,” she told reporters at the Charleston Open. “For me, being openly gay, if I want to be myself, I have to make this step, and I did it.”
For over two years, Kasatkina had been living between Spain and Dubai, unable to return to Russia since coming out publicly. Last summer, she went public with her relationship with Russian Olympic figure skater Natalia Zabiiako. While she has always been candid about her identity, the increasingly hostile environment in Russia made it clear that going back was not an option.
In 2022, Russian lawmakers expanded their infamous “gay propaganda” law, making it illegal to promote or “praise” LGBTQ+ relationships in any way. The sweeping ban criminalized even the mere suggestion that queer identities are normal, pushing Russia’s LGBTQ+ community even further into the shadows. Meanwhile, critics of the war in Ukraine have been met with arrests, fines, and even imprisonment.
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For Kasatkina, staying Russian by nationality meant continuing to be tied to a country whose values—and actions—she could no longer support.
While the decision was fueled by necessity, Kasatkina also expressed excitement about her future in Australia, a country where she says she feels “totally at home.”
“Obviously, there are parts of this decision that have not been easy,” she shared in her announcement. “But I am thrilled to start this new chapter in my career and my life under the Australian flag.”
Tennis Australia has warmly welcomed her into its ranks, with a spokesperson confirming that she will now compete as an Australian player moving forward. With her world ranking of No. 12, she instantly becomes one of the country’s top talents on the tour.
