Daria Kasatkina announces she will begin representing Australia

Former Top 10 player Daria Kasatkina made the surprise announcement Friday that she will soon begin representing Australia on the professional tennis tour, writing in a social media statement that her application for permanent residency has recently been granted.

"Australia is a place I love, is incredibly welcoming and a place where I feel totally at home," Kasatkina wrote in a post on Instagram in a surprise announceent on Friday evening. "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."

Russian and Belarusian tennis players, including Kasatkina, have played as neutral athletes, listed without a flag, since shortly after the Russian government's decision to invade Ukraine, with Belarusian support, nearly three years ago. The 27-year-old has not returned to Russia in the last two-and-a-half years, following her decision to both come out as a lesbian and condemn her home nation's invasion of its sovereign neighbor in an interview with a Russian vlogger in July of 2022.

"Obviously, there are parts of this decision that have not been easy," Kasatkina continued. "I want to express my thanks and gratitude to my family, coaches, and everyone who has supported me throughout my tennis journey to date."

Kasatkina is currently the second-highest ranked female tennis player from Russia, behind world No. 6 Mirra Andreeva, but her switch means that she will soon become the top-ranked Australian player. Currently, the Australian No. 1 in the WTA rankings is Kimberly Birrell, ranked No. 68. Her announcement was received positively by fellow Russian ex-pats Arina Rodionova and Daria Saville, who have represented Australia since 2014 and 2015, respectively, as well as the official social media accounts of Tennis Australia.

"Welcome to the Aussie tennis family," wrote the federation in response to Kasatkina's post, with the official Instagram account of the Australian Open adding: "Dasha Down Under. A warm welcome."

The news comes after a snafu relating to Kasatkina's nationality at February's Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, where she was erroneously listed with Spanish national y during the official draw ceremony due to what the tournament later said was an "administrative error." At the time, representatives for Kasatkina categorically denied that she planned to switch nationalities.

Read more: Daria Kasatkina erroneously listed with Spanish nationality in Abu Dhabi draw ceremony

Kasatkina is 9-8 in singles in 2025 so far, having most recently lost in the second round of the Miami Open to American Hailey Baptiste.

"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 added. "Thank you all for your understanding and continued support."