<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>341374</docID> <postdate>2025-03-29 14:25:53</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 <b>Anna Harrington </b>and <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>Kasatkina has not returned to Russia for more than two years after coming out as gay in a video interview in 2022, when she also became one of few Russian-born athletes to speak out against the war in Ukraine.</p> <p>She has said it is unsafe and "not possible" for her to return, due to both her sexuality and her opposition to the war.</p> <p>In an Instagram post on Saturday, Kasatkina expressed her joy in gaining permanent residency in Australia and planned to move to Melbourne.</p> <p>"I am delighted to let you all know that my application for permanent residency has been accepted by the Australian Government," she said.</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>"Obviously, there are parts of this decision that have not been easy.</p> <p>"I want to express my thanks and gratitude to my family, coaches and everyone who has supported me throughout my tennis journey to date.</p> <p>"I will always have respect and fond appreciation for my roots, but I am thrilled to start this new chapter in my career and my life under the Australian flag.</p> <p>"Thank you all for your understanding and continued support."</p> <p>Tennis Australia's official account commented on the post, saying: "Welcome to the Aussie tennis family", while good friend Daria Saville wrote "new neighbour".</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> <p>Kasatkina follows the likes of Daria Saville, Ajla Tomljanovic and Arina Rodionova in making eligibility switches.</p> <p>She will clearly be Australia's new women's No.1 and the country's highest-ranked player since Ash Barty retired.</p> <p>Kasatkina leads Kim Birrell (No.68), Maya Joint (No.80), Tomljanovic (No.88), Olivia Gadecki (No.99) and Saville (No.105) among high-ranked Australians.</p> <p>Kasatkina reached the fourth round at Melbourne Park for the first time this year, while she is a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist and has twice made the fourth round of the US Open.</p> <p>She won the Billie Jean King Cup (then Federation Cup) with Russia in 2020-21.</p> </body>