World No. 12 tennis player Daria Kasatkina is set to represent Australia in future competitions. This decision follows her successful application for permanent residency in the country.
The 27-year-old athlete shared her plans on Instagram this Friday, stating her intention to reside in Melbourne and compete under the Australian flag going forward.
Kasatkina expressed her affection for Australia, describing it as a welcoming place where she feels completely at home. She announced her pride in representing Australia, her new homeland, in her professional tennis career from now on.
Since 2022, Kasatkina had been competing under a neutral flag, a consequence of the restrictions imposed on Russian and Belarusian players following the conflict in Ukraine.
Her tennis achievements include reaching the French Open semifinals in 2022 and securing eight WTA singles titles. Her highest career ranking to date is No. 8 in the world.
Tennis Australia officially confirmed on Saturday the approval of Kasatkina`s residency.
The federation extended a warm welcome, stating `Welcome to the Aussie tennis family` in response to her announcement. The Australian Open`s official Instagram account also joined in, adding: `Dasha Down Under. A warm welcome.`
This season, Kasatkina holds a 9–8 win-loss record, with her most notable performance being at the Australian Open, where she reached the Round of 16 after winning her initial three matches.
