Russian-born Daria Kasatkina says she can “finally breathe” as she prepares for her first Australian Open as an Australian player. Kasatkina recently gained Australian citizenship after playing as a neutral athlete for several years due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This change means she can now compete fully as a home player and focus on her tennis without outside pressures.
The 28-year-old has not returned to Russia since coming out as gay in 2022 and has described the war in Ukraine as a “nightmare.” Speaking about her journey, Kasatkina said, “Finally I can just breathe. I can live and just do my job and not be worried about the things which are not in my control.” She admitted that last season was extremely difficult, saying she was “trying to get out of this hole basically” and even ended her 2025 season early because she felt mentally and emotionally at breaking point.
Now, Kasatkina is looking forward to a fresh start at the Australian Open. She will begin her tournament against Czech teenager Nikola Bartunkova and is expecting strong support from the home crowd in Melbourne. “For the first time I’m going to play in front of such a big home crowd, so that’s going to be special,” she said.
Kasatkina knows she will need to manage her nerves in this new situation but welcomes the challenge. “This is a good pressure, so I would choose this one compared to what I have been through in the past couple of years,” she explained. Playing a home Slam is, in her words, “a really special chapter” in her life and an opportunity to focus fully on her tennis career.
