Daria Kasatkina Changes Nationality to Escape LGBT Repression in Russia
A decision forced by circumstances
Tennis player Daria Kasatkina has recently made her change of sporting nationality official, explaining that she made this choice out of necessity. The former Russian No.1 revealed on Monday, March 31, that she felt threatened in her home country due to her sexual orientation. From now on, she will compete under the Australian flag—a change she announced a few days earlier on her social media platforms.
“With everything happening in my home country, I didn’t really have a choice. As an openly gay woman, if I want to be myself, I have to take this step. And I did,” said the player ahead of the Charleston tournament in the United States, where she will play her first matches as an Australian representative.
A new personal and professional chapter
Currently ranked 12th in the WTA rankings, Kasatkina admitted feeling emotional about this major turning point in her career. “It’s a different feeling. It’s emotional for me,” she repeated. Despite feeling nervous before her first match under a new flag, she stated, “I’m really happy to start this new chapter of my life by representing Australia on the biggest courts in the world.”
The athlete, who has already won eight titles on the WTA Tour, is now entering a new phase in her career—one marked by a sense of freedom and acceptance.
An announcement planned on social media
A few days before her public statement, Kasatkina had revealed on Instagram that her application for permanent residency in Australia had been approved. She expressed her affection for the country: “Australia is a place I love, incredibly welcoming, and where I truly feel at home.” At that time, however, she had not gone into detail about her deeper motivations.
A Russia increasingly hostile to LGBT+ people
This decision comes amid a growing crackdown on LGBT+ rights in Russia. Vladimir Putin’s government recently labeled the “international LGBT movement” as a “terrorist and extremist organization”—a vague but heavy designation that allows for severe prison sentences. Police raids and intimidation acts now frequently target venues welcoming the LGBT+ community.
An outspoken athlete standing against her country’s oppression
At 27 years old, Daria Kasatkina has already made headlines for her open criticism of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. That conflict marked a shift in the Kremlin’s repressive policy, increasing pressure on dissenting voices and minority groups, particularly LGBT people.
By changing her nationality, the tennis player sends a powerful message—one that is both a personal act of survival and a clear stand against oppression.
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