<figure id="attachment_3021104" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3021104" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3021104" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/86c5838c-daria-kasatkina-epa-290325.webp" alt="Daria Kasatkina EPA 290325" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3021104" class="wp-caption-text">Daria Kasatkina said Australia had approved her application for permanent residency on Instagram. (EPA Images pic)</figcaption></figure>
SYDNEY: Russian-born tennis world No 12 Daria Kasatkina announced today she is switching to play under the Australian flag.
The 27-year-old, who has previously described the war in Ukraine as a &#8220;nightmare&#8221;, said on Instagram she was &#8220;delighted&#8221; to reveal Australia had approved her application for permanent residency.
Kasatkina said she loved Australia and looked forward to making Melbourne her home.
&#8220;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,&#8221; she said.
&#8220;Obviously there are parts of this decision that have not been easy,&#8221; the player added, thanking her family and coaches for their support.
&#8220;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.&#8221;
Kasatkina has previously criticised Moscow&#8217;s attitude towards homosexuality after revealing she was gay.
Tennis Australia hailed her switch with a message on social media: &#8220;A warm welcome to the Aussie tennis family, Dasha,&#8221; along with a heart emoji.

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