“Potentially quite harmful”: Daria Kasatkina caught in nationality controversy after Abu Dhabi error

WTA
Sunday, 02 February 2025 at 20:30
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The WTA 500 Abu Dhabi Open held its main draw ceremony this Sunday, where Daria Kasatkina was mistakenly displayed with the Spanish flag, sparking speculation about a potential nationality change. The world No. 11—who has been outspoken about conflicts involving Russia—has previously lived in Barcelona.

The 2022 French Open semifinalist has openly criticised Russia’s LGBTQ+ laws and opposed the war in Ukraine. As soon as the Spanish flag appeared next to her name, social media erupted with rumours about a possible switch in nationality, which was ultimately denied by the tournament organisers.

“We sincerely apologise for the error made by one of our suppliers during the live draw, whereby an incorrect nationality was shown alongside the name of Daria Kasatkina,” read a statement from the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open. “This was entirely an administrative mistake and has now been corrected.”

Since the start of the war, Kasatkina and other Russian players have competed without a flag at tournaments. While she does train in Barcelona at times throughout the year, her current residence is in Dubai, and she has not been in Russia for several years.

The mistake in Abu Dhabi has raised concerns within Kasatkina’s management, who described the incident as "potentially quite harmful" to her. "This carries some strong implications for Daria if the Russian authorities feel she is trying to switch—which she is not," they stated.

The third seed received a first-round bye and awaits her second-round opponent from the all-American clash between McCartney Kessler and Ashlyn Krueger. The WTA 500 event features a star-studded field, including Elena Rybakina, Paula Badosa, Ons Jabeur, and Emma Raducanu, among others.

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