"I didn't have much choice being openly gay": Daria Kasatkina begins first week as Australian player with reason behind Russia switch

Daria Kasatkina begins her first week as an Australian player and as the Australian Number One after switching from representing Russia which was confirmed last week.

Kasatkina said she didn't have 'much choice' in the matter and that being openly gay meant that she had to act in her own best interests. The World No.12 has lived in Dubai for sometime and previously lived in Spain.

Abu Dhabi Open previously messed up and said she represented Spain with a nationality switch mooted at some point but it was never a foregone conclusion. She shocked people as a result with the country she represented and also the timing of it. But it is a part of her career she is relishing.

"It's my first official day as an Australian player. Honestly, it feels different, I'm not going to lie. It's emotional for me," said Kasatkina at Charleston Open as per BBC.

"I have to get used to it. But I'm really happy to start this new chapter of my life representing Australia on the big stage."

She said that she had no choice but to switch in the end. Kasatkina has previously criticised her homeland not only for the stance on LGBTQ+ laws but also the war in Ukraine.

She has not returned since 2022 and has openly said that she fears consequences if she ever does. Some Russian politicians were quizzed about it this week and understood the move but also some in the past have moved to call her a foreign agent and wanted her recognised as such.

This is despite being Russian Number One up until recently when Mirra Andreeva took the mantle but perhaps was tainted given that she wasn't seemingly accepted back home.

"With everything going on in my previous country, I didn't have much choice [to switch allegiance]," she told reporters on Monday.

"For me, being openly gay, if I want to be myself, I have to make this step, and I did it.

"I have to get used to it a little bit, because for a couple of years I didn't hear anything. But it's something nice to get used to."