Daria Kasatkina Switches Allegiance to Australia, Becomes Nation’s No. 1 Player
Daria Kasatkina, ranked No. 12 in the world, has switched her tennis nationality to Australia. She will make her debut under the Australian flag at the Charleston Open and become the country’s new No. 1 female player. Kasatkina, a former French Open semifinalist, looks forward to continuing her career in her new homeland.
Daria Kasatkina Switches Allegiance to Australia, Becomes Nation’s No. 1 Player
World No. 12 Daria Kasatkina has officially switched her tennis nationality to Australia, receiving a warm welcome from Tennis Australia. Her application for permanent residency was approved by the Australian government, and she will compete under the Australian flag starting at the Charleston Open next week.
Kasatkina, who has been playing as a neutral athlete since 2022 due to restrictions on Russian and Belarusian players following the invasion of Ukraine, has not returned to Russia in over two years. She previously spoke out against the war and came out as gay in 2022, stating that it is unsafe for her to go back due to both her sexuality and her political stance.
In an Instagram post, Kasatkina expressed her gratitude and excitement for the next chapter of her career: “Australia is a place I love, incredibly welcoming, and where I feel totally at home. I look forward to making Melbourne my permanent home and am proud to represent Australia in my professional tennis career.”
A New Chapter in Her Career
Tennis Australia celebrated Kasatkina’s arrival, with an official statement welcoming her to the Australian tennis family. Fellow Australian players, including Daria Saville, also expressed their excitement, with Saville playfully calling Kasatkina her “new neighbor.”
Kasatkina follows in the footsteps of players like Saville, Ajla Tomljanovic, and Arina Rodionova, who have also made nationality switches to Australia. With her ranking, she will become Australia’s new No. 1 women's player, surpassing compatriots Kim Birrell (No. 68), Maya Joint (No. 80), and Tomljanovic (No. 88).
Impressive Career Achievements
Kasatkina has won eight WTA titles and previously reached a career-high ranking of No. 8 in the world. Her best Grand Slam performance came at the 2022 French Open, where she reached the semifinals. She has also made deep runs at Wimbledon and the US Open, as well as winning the Billie Jean King Cup with Russia in 2020-21.
After reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open earlier this year, Kasatkina now looks forward to competing for her new homeland and continuing her impressive career on the global stage.