Kasatkina admits she is now 'paying the price' for speaking out against Russia: "I want to look in the mirror and not be ashamed"
WTA
World number 11 Daria Kasatkina believes that she is ‘paying
the price’ for speaking against Russia for its adventure in Ukraine.
Both European countries have been involved in an armed conflict
since February 2022 which resulted in the loss of human lives.
Kasatkina, who is one of the most outspoken players on the tennis
circuit, has been vocal in her criticism of the current regime in Russia for
its war with Ukraine.
The Tolyatti-born, for the first time, while talking to
Italian media outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, admitted that she is now paying
the price of not being able to visit her own country because of speaking
against the current regime.
“I made my choices,” she said. “I want to look in the mirror
& not be ashamed. Now I’m paying the price for this decision.. I’m not in a
position to judge. There are those who have families there who’ve decided not
to pay the same consequence.”
On the court, Kasatkina has been going through a mixed
patch. During the recently concluded Wimbledon, the 26-year-old lost to Belarus’
Victoria Azarenka in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-4 in the third round.
Kasatkina is now competing in the Palermo Open where she has
already booked her place in the second round after defeating Italy’s Martina
Trevisan with the score of 6-3, 6-7, 6-0.
She will now face fellow Russian player Tatiana Prozorova in
the round of 16 clash on Thursday.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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