American Legend Chris Evert Proudly Supports 27YO Russian WTA Star’s Bold New Change

Daria Kasatkina is trading red for green and gold. The world No. 12 has officially switched her tennis allegiance to Australia after her permanent residency was approved. She has been playing under a neutral flag since Russia announced an invasion of its neighboring Ukraine in 2022. Kasatkina has been a notable figure in tennis not just for her skill but also for her outspoken stance on important issues like LGBTQ+ and the Russian- Ukraine war. All this has culminated in her permanent move to Australia. Now, she has found support as a former WTA American pro is applauding Kasatkina on her bold move.

The Russian-born star has been one of the few openly gay players on the WTA Tour, coming out in 2022 during an interview with Russian blogger Vitya Kravchenko. She is dating Russian Olympic figure skater Natalia Zabiiako, and they share tidbits of their lives on their joint Instagram account and YouTube channel.

She has also been vocal about her opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling it “a complete nightmare.” Her comments have come at a cost. Since speaking out, her management has acknowledged the challenges she has faced. A Russian politician even attempted to label her a ‘foreign agent’—a designation used for individuals seen as working against the country’s interests. Kasatkina, who has not set foot in Russia for over two years, told ESPN last year that she had expected “consequences” for her actions.

Since then, the 27-year-old has been living in Dubai and sometimes trains in Spain. Now, the eight-time singles champion has found a new chapter in Australia. She announced the decision on Instagram through a post. Kasatkina thanked those who supported her in the transition, sharing a heartfelt message. She wrote, “I am pleased to announce that my application for permanent residence has been accepted by the Australian Government. Australia is a place I love, incredibly welcoming, and where I feel at home. I love being in Melbourne and am looking forward to settling there. As part of this, I am proud to announce that I will represent my new country, Australia, in my professional tennis career from now on.”

The 18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert was quick to show her support. The American legend took to X, writing, “This is heartwarming to hear! Free to be who you are in a wonderful country … So happy for you .”

This is heartwarming to hear! Free to be who you are in a wonderful country … So happy for you https://t.co/AsyCMH8pWI

— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) March 29, 2025

Interesting fact: Kasatkina is not the first Russian-born player to take this path. Daria Saville became an Australian citizen in 2015, influenced by her husband, Australian tennis player Luke Saville. Arina Rodionova also made the switch in 2014 and later married Australian rules footballer Ty Vickery.

Her arrival has been met with warmth from the Australian tennis community. Let’s find out who congratulated her!

Daria Kasatkina receives a warm welcome Down Under

With her new nationality, Kasatkina instantly became Australia’s No. 1 female player. She takes the top spot ahead of Kim Birrell (No. 68), Maya Joint (No. 80), Ajla Tomljanović (No. 88), Olivia Gadecki (No. 99), and Saville (No. 105). This makes her the highest-ranked Australian woman since Ash Barty’s retirement.

Daria Kasatkina’s decision, as she said, “has not been easy.” However, it must have been eased by the amount of support in her comment box on Instagram.

Tennis Australia welcomed her on Instagram, commenting, “Welcome to the Aussie tennis family.” The Australian Open’s account chimed in with, “Dasha Down Under. A warm welcome.” Her fellow Aussie players joined the celebration. Saville joked, “new neighbour .” Rodionova added, “This is gonna be fun So many avocado toasts will be consumed between us .” Meanwhile, former doubles star Rennae Stubbs couldn’t hide her excitement, writing, “Omggggg i was right! Lol so happy to see this! WELCOME MATEEEE!!! .”

On the court, the new Australian No.1, Daria Kasatkina, has had a mixed 2025 season so far, holding a 9-8 singles record. Kasatkina’s latest tournament run ended in the second round of the Miami Open, where she fell to American Hailey Baptiste. With the clay season approaching, the question now is whether she can claim her first title under the Australian flag. Can Kasatkina make her mark under the Aussie flag and bring home a title?

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