Russia-born tennis star Daria Kasatkina said Saturday she could “finally breathe” as she prepares for her first Australian Open representing her new country, reports AFP.
The 28-year-old, who publicly identifies as gay, changed her sporting allegiance to Australia last March, citing Moscow’s stance on LGBTQ rights and describing the war in Ukraine as a “nightmare.”
Kasatkina, a former world No. 8 now ranked 48, opens her Melbourne campaign against Czech player Nikola Bartunkova, with expectations of strong home support from a passionate crowd.
She has already experienced a warm reception at lead-up events in Adelaide and Brisbane, saying it nearly brought her to tears.
“This is a good pressure, so I would choose this one compared to what I have been through in the past couple of years,” Kasatkina said. “Now I’m going to play a home Slam, and that’s a really special chapter in my life. I will try to enjoy it as much as possible.”
Kasatkina ended her 2025 season early, citing mental and emotional strain, but says she now feels in a “better place” and is ready to focus fully on her tennis.
“The last season was very, very tough. I was trying to get out of this hole,” she said. “This transition last year wasn’t easy. I got a lot of support, but also criticism. It’s been difficult, but finally I can just breathe. I can live and do my job without worrying about things out of my control.”
The Australian Open begins Sunday, marking a new chapter in Kasatkina’s career and life as a fully-fledged Australian competitor.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
