World No. 12 Daria Kasatkina, who was born in Russia, will now represent Australia in tennis. This change comes after she was granted permanent residency in Australia.
Kasatkina, aged 27, has openly criticized the Russian government`s policies, particularly regarding LGBT rights, and has spoken out against the war in Ukraine.
In a statement shared on her Instagram, Kasatkina expressed her joy at receiving permanent residency from the Australian Government. She mentioned that Australia feels like home and expressed her love for Melbourne.
Kasatkina, who has won eight singles titles in her career, stated she is proud to represent Australia in her future professional tennis endeavors.
She acknowledged that making this decision was not easy and thanked her family, coaches, and supporters for their journey together.
Kasatkina emphasized her respect for her roots but conveyed excitement for this new chapter under the Australian flag and thanked everyone for their understanding and support.
