For a tennis player who has spent years competing under a neutral flag, the moment Daria Kasatkina finally waved a new one felt personal. The Russian-born star, who came out as gay in 2022, now calls Australia home — and she is not holding back about what that freedom means.
Current WTA Ranking: No. 10 ·
Career High: No. 8 ·
Age: 28 ·
Height: 1.70 m ·
Prize Money: $6.2 million ·
Nationality: Russian-born Australian
Quick snapshot
- Publicly came out as gay in July 2022 (ESPN)
- Became an Australian citizen by January 2026 (BBC Sport)
- Career-high ranking of No. 8 (October 2018) (WTA Official)
- In a relationship with figure skater Natalia Zabiiako (ESPN)
- Whether she will represent Australia in the Billie Jean King Cup
- Her exact future tournament schedule beyond 2025
- July 2022: Public coming out (ESPN)
- March 2025: Announced Australian representation (Tennis.com)
- January 2026: Australian citizenship confirmed (BBC Sport)
- Competing under the Australian flag at WTA events
- Potential Billie Jean King Cup debut for Australia
- Continued advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights in sport
Eight key facts about Daria Kasatkina, from her early life to her current status:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Daria Sergeyevna Kasatkina |
| Born | |
| Birthplace | Tolyatti, Russia |
| Nationality | Russian-born Australian |
| Height | 1.70 m |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Career High | No. 8 (October 2018) |
| WTA Titles | 2 |
What Has Happened to Daria Kasatkina?
Recent Australian citizenship announcement
In January 2026, Kasatkina publicly showed her Australian citizenship certificate before the Australian Open, as reported by The Athletic. The process had been underway for months: Tennis Australia confirmed in March 2025 that she would compete as an Australian effective immediately after her permanent residency status was approved (Tennis.com).
Public coming out and moving to Spain
Kasatkina revealed she was gay in a July 2022 YouTube interview, telling fans she could no longer live in the closet (ESPN). She and her partner, figure skater Natalia Zabiiako, subsequently moved to Spain, where Kasatkina had already been training. The move was driven by Russia’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws, which she said made it impossible to hold her girlfriend’s hand in public (ESPN).
Kasatkina’s public coming out and subsequent nationality change are two sides of the same coin: the desire to live openly without fear. For a top-10 athlete, that choice carries both personal and professional weight.
The implication: Kasatkina is rewriting the script for what it means to be a Russian athlete on the global stage.
Why Did Daria Kasatkina Become Australian?
Escaping Russia’s anti-LGBTQ+ environment
Kasatkina has been blunt about the motivation. In an interview with The Guardian, she said: “If I wanted to live a free, open life, I couldn’t do it in Russia.” The country’s laws on “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships” effectively criminalize public LGBTQ+ expression, and Kasatkina said she could never be herself there.
Seeking freedom to be herself openly
After coming out, she said she could “finally breathe” upon receiving Australian citizenship, as reported by BBC Sport. The process moved quickly — initial conversations began only a few months before the announcement, according to The Guardian.
Career benefits of Australian citizenship
Competing as an Australian opens doors: she no longer needs to compete as a neutral athlete (as she had done since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine), and she gains access to Tennis Australia’s support infrastructure. The ranking update on 1 April 2025 marked her first official day as an Australian player, per ABC News Australia.
For Kasatkina, the nationality change is not just a paperwork update — it is a declaration of values. She is one of the highest-profile tennis players to publicly cite anti-LGBTQ+ laws as a reason for relocation, setting a precedent for other athletes in similar situations.
The pattern: when legal identity becomes a moral choice, the court is only half the arena.
Is Daria Kasatkina LGBTQ?
Public coming out in 2022
Yes. Kasatkina came out as gay in a 2022 video on her own YouTube channel, later confirmed by ESPN. She said living in the closet was impossible and thanked fans for their support.
Support from tennis community
Fellow players and the WTA publicly supported her. The Russian Tennis Federation, however, did not comment. Kasatkina has since become an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, using her platform to highlight the challenges faced by queer athletes in conservative countries.
Impact on her personal life
The freedom to be open has transformed her daily life. She now lives in Spain with her partner, and has said that she no longer fears being seen holding hands in public — a simple act that was impossible in Russia (ESPN).
What this means: authenticity became her core strategy, both on and off the court.
Who Is Daria Kasatkina’s Partner?
Natalia Zabiiako – figure skater
Kasatkina is in a relationship with Natalia Zabiiako, an Olympic figure skater who represented Russia in pairs skating. The couple went public after Kasatkina’s coming out in 2022 and frequently share moments together on Instagram (ESPN).
How they met and their relationship timeline
While the exact details of their meeting are private, both have spoken about their bond in interviews. They moved to Spain together in 2023, and Zabiiako has been a supportive presence at Kasatkina’s matches. The relationship is widely seen as a source of stability for the tennis star.
Supportive public role
Zabiiako has occasionally posted about Kasatkina’s achievements, and the couple’s social media presence reflects a shared life between training and travel. For Kasatkina, having a partner who understands the demands of elite sport has been invaluable.
The catch: a figure skater and a tennis player — both elite, both Russian, both building a new life abroad.
What Is Daria Kasatkina’s Tennis Career Overview?
Career highlights and rankings
- Turned professional in 2014 (ESPN)
- Won the 2014 French Open junior girls’ title (ESPN)
- First top-10 win against Venus Williams in Auckland 2016 (ESPN)
- Reached top 25 in 2016 (ESPN)
- Career-high No. 8 in October 2018 (WTA Official)
- Two WTA singles titles, with prize money exceeding $6.2 million
Playing style and strengths
Kasatkina is known for her defensive baseline game, exceptional court sense, and ability to redirect pace. Her two-handed backhand is a weapon, and she often outmanoeuvres opponents with spin and variety. The WTA describes her as a “crafty” player who relies on timing and placement rather than raw power.
Prize money and titles
As of 2025, Kasatkina has earned over $6.2 million in prize money, with two WTA singles titles. Her biggest title came at the 2018 Kremlin Cup, where she defeated Ons Jabeur in the final. She also reached the quarterfinals of the French Open in 2018 and 2020.
The implication: her game is built on cunning, not power — and that has proven durable across a decade on tour.
Timeline
The key moments in Kasatkina’s journey from Russian prodigy to Australian citizen:
- 7 May 1997 – Born in Tolyatti, Russia (WTA Official)
- 2014 – Turned professional; won French Open junior girls’ title (ESPN)
- 2018 – Reached career-high ranking of No. 8 (WTA Official)
- July 2022 – Publicly came out as gay (ESPN)
- 2023 – Moved to Spain with partner Natalia Zabiiako
- March 2025 – Announced Australian representation after permanent residency (Tennis.com)
- January 2026 – Received Australian citizenship; showed certificate before Australian Open (BBC Sport)
Clarity: What We Know and What Remains Unclear
Confirmed facts
- Kasatkina is an Australian citizen as of 2026 (BBC Sport)
- She is in a relationship with Natalia Zabiiako (ESPN)
- She came out as gay in 2022 (ESPN)
- She left Russia due to anti-LGBTQ+ laws (The Guardian)
What’s unclear
- Whether she will represent Australia in the Billie Jean King Cup
- Her exact future tournament schedule beyond 2025
Quotes from Daria Kasatkina
“I can finally breathe.”
— Daria Kasatkina, on receiving Australian citizenship, BBC Sport
“Living in the closet was impossible.”
— Daria Kasatkina, in her 2022 coming-out video, reported by ESPN
Kasatkina’s words underline the personal stakes behind her professional decisions. The two quotes, separated by years, trace a single arc: from fear to freedom.
Summary: A New Chapter for Australian Tennis
Daria Kasatkina’s decision to become an Australian citizen was never just about ranking points or tournament schedules. It was about living without hiding. For the Australian tennis community, she brings a top-10 talent and a compelling story. For LGBTQ+ athletes in Russia, her example signals that a path out exists. Kasatkina will play under the flag that lets her be herself.
theguardian.com, bbc.com, en.wikipedia.org, youtube.com, espn.com
For more on Kasatkina’s journey, read her full partner and citizenship story on Australia Data.
Frequently asked questions
How many WTA singles titles has Daria Kasatkina won?
She has won two WTA singles titles, the most notable being the 2018 Kremlin Cup (WTA Official).
What is Daria Kasatkina’s net worth?
Her career prize money exceeds $6.2 million, not including endorsements (WTA Official).
Does Daria Kasatkina have siblings?
Public information about siblings is limited; she has not discussed them in major interviews.
What is Daria Kasatkina’s playing style?
She is a defensive baseliner with a two-handed backhand, known for her court sense and ability to redirect pace. The WTA describes her as a crafty player.
Where does Daria Kasatkina currently live?
She lives in Spain with her partner, figure skater Natalia Zabiiako (ESPN).
Has Daria Kasatkina ever played in the Olympics?
She has not competed in the Olympic Games. Her participation in future Olympics will depend on her Australian citizenship and qualification.
What is Daria Kasatkina’s favorite surface?
She has expressed a preference for clay, where she reached the French Open quarterfinals in 2018 and 2020 (WTA Official).
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James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Watch, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.