Daria Kasatkina makes nationality switch to represent Australia after permanent residency application accepted

Daria Kasatkina was accidentally listed as being Spanish during the Abu Dhabi Open draw last month but she has suddenly switched to now represent Australia going forward, she has confirmed today (Friday).

Kasatkina penned a statement on her Instagram that she will now represent her homeland of Australia going forward in her professional tennis career. Since the war in Ukraine broke out, Kasatkina has resided in Spain and Dubai. She has not returned to Russia for two and a half years.

She has criticised LGBT rules in Russia being openly gay herself and opposed the war previously in Ukraine. She publicly came out in 2022 in a video interview with Russian blogger Vitya Kravchenko and called for an end to the war in the same interview.

She declared the war as a 'complete nightmare' and she was called a 'foreign agent' by a politician in her homeland. She told ESPN at the time that she was expecting 'consequences' for her actions.

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Announcing this move which has been widely lauded, Kasatkina said she will always have fond appreciation for her roots but that she is looking forward to starting her new chapter.

"I am delighted to let you all know that my application for permanent residency has been accepted by the Australian Government. Australia is a place I love, is incredibly welcoming and a place where I feel totally at home. I love being in Melbourne and look forward to making my home there. As part of this, I am proud to announce that I will be representing my new homeland Australia in my professional tennis career from this point onwards," she penned.

"Obviously there are parts of this decision that have not been easy. I want to express my thanks and gratitude to my family, coaches and everyone who has supported me throughout my tennis journey to date. I will always have respect and fond appreciation for my roots, but I am thrilled to start this new chapter in my career and my life under the Australian flag."

Kasatkina who is ranked just outside the top 10 currently shares her life on her YouTube channel which she shares with girlfriend Natalia Zabiiako, a figure skater who she has been in a relationship with since 2022 called What The Vlog.

Arina Rodionova, her fellow pro and friend who features on the vlog series previously switched herself after getting married and was previously Australian Number One. A mantle Kasatkina takes up now straight away.

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