<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>341374</docID> <postdate>2025-03-29 10:56:53</postdate> <headline>Russian-born Kasatkina switches allegiance to Australia</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-341375" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250120118329106397-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="617" /></p> <caption>Daria Kasatkina has pledged her allegiance to Australia after gaining permanent residency. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Mohen Govender</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Russian-born tennis star Daria Kasatkina is switching allegiances to Australia after her application for permanent residency was accepted by the government.</strong></p> <p>The world No.12 has been playing on the tour as a neutral athlete after Russian and Belarusian players were banned from competing under their own flags following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.</p> <p>In an Instagram post, Kasatkina expressed her joy in gaining permanent residency in Australia.</p> <p>"I am delighted to let you all know that my application for permanent residency has been accepted by the Australian Government.</p> <p>"Australia is a place I love, is incredibly welcoming and a place where I feel totally at home.</p> <p>"I love being in Melbourne and look forward to making my home there.</p> <p>"As part of this, I am proud to announce that I will be representing my new homeland Australia, in my professional tennis career from this point onwards."</p> <p>The 27-year-old rose as high as No.8 in the world and has won eight WTA titles - her best grand slam result coming at the French Open where she reached the semi-finals in 2022.</p> </body>