PREVIEW

Daria Kasatkina Begins New Chapter Representing Australia. Russian-born tennis star Daria Kasatkina says she “didn’t have much choice” but to switch allegiances to Australia, citing her identity as an openly gay woman. The world number 12 has lived in Spain and Dubai while competing as a neutral athlete since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - According to CNN. Now a permanent resident of Australia, she debuted under a new flag at the Charleston Open calling the moment emotional but meaningful. Despite a dominant 6-1, 6-1 win over Lauren Davis, she described the experience as “stressful” due to all the changes. Kasatkina says living in Melbourne feels like home and hopes to fully embrace this new chapter. Her move comes amid harsh anti-LGBTQ laws in Russia, which she says made staying true to herself impossible there.
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