Daria Kasatkina, 12 number of the world, becomes an Australian citizen: "Being openly gay, I didn't have many options"
Repression towards the community LGTBIQ + en Russia has pushed the tennis player Daria Kasatkina to change their nationality from now on. Russian, currently 12 number of the world, will compete under the shelter of the flag Australian since the tournament of Charleston which starts this week. After several years in exile and persecuted for her sexual orientation, the player has explained the change she announced a few days ago.
Her request to change her nationality had been accepted, allowing her to participate as an Australian from her next official championship.I'm so happy to be starting this new chapter in my life. With everything going on in my previous country, I didn't have many other options. For me, Being openly gay, if I want to be myself, I have to take this step"he assured kasatkina in the run-up to the tournament.
The tennis player also revealed that the process was initiated by the Australian Tennis Federation, and admitted that it will take time to get used to the change.I feel different, I'm not going to lie. It's emotional for me. I have to get used to it. But I'm very happy to start this new chapter of my life representing Australia on the big stage.«. With this change, moreover, kasatkina has become the Australian number 1.
He openly positioned himself against the invasion of Ukraine
kasatkina, who also resided in Dubai For more than two years, fleeing Russian repression, he had been competing under neutral flag due to the limitations imposed on Russian tennis players after the invasion of UkraineThe tennis player herself, in fact, had been one of the few public faces in her country to openly position herself against this decision by the government presided over by Vladimir Putin.
These chapters prompted a Russian politician to request that he be included in the spy list for his relationship with the Russian singer Zemfira, who also fled the country in 2022 and is considered a "foreign agent" for that reason.
