Just days after officially becoming an Australian citizen, tennis star Daria Kasatkina is eagerly anticipating the unique thrill of competing as a local hope at Melbourne Park. The 28-year-old, who switched allegiances to Australia last March, confirmed her citizenship was granted ahead of her first Australian Open representing her new nation.
A Dream Realised: "Happy, Grateful and Free"
Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Kasatkina shared the milestone with a simple yet powerful message: "Officially an Australian. Happy, Grateful and Free." Speaking to media, the world No.48 elaborated on the profound significance of the moment, which extended far beyond just receiving a new passport.
"Honestly, I cannot even describe how much that means," Kasatkina said. "It's about the acceptance, let's say. The whole process, the support from the people, from the other citizens — it's been amazing. I couldn't imagine that, coming from a completely different background, to receive this amount of support basically from strangers."
She expressed deep appreciation for the warmth she has received, stating she felt "so much love" from the Australian public. Now, she carries a sense of pride and responsibility. "I'm just super-proud and grateful. I mean, that's a responsibility, but that's what I was looking for," Kasatkina admitted. "I don't know if I will be ever able to pay back the same amount what this country gave me."
Embracing the "Fun Pressure" of a Home Crowd
Kasatkina, a former world No.8, has already had a taste of enthusiastic Australian support during recent tournaments in Brisbane and Adelaide. However, her first-round match at the Australian Open will be a new experience, as she faces Czech teenage qualifier Nikola Bartunkova in front of what she hopes will be a vocal home crowd.
She is reframing the expectations that come with this new status as a positive force. "This is a good pressure, so I would choose this one compared to what I have been through in the past couple of years," Kasatkina explained. "Let's call it a fun pressure... Also for the first time I'm gonna play in front of such a big home crowd, so that's gonna be special."
The athlete acknowledged she will need to manage her nerves in this unprecedented situation but emphasised it is an "extremely positive change." Her outlook has been shaped by a difficult period, both personally and professionally.
A New Chapter On and Off the Court
Kasatkina has not returned to Russia since 2022, when she came out as gay in a video interview and publicly criticised the war in Ukraine—a stance that made her one of the few Russian-born athletes to do so. She has faced criticism and social media abuse for switching her sporting allegiance.
Now, she is happily trading those past pressures for the challenge of mastering Australian slang and embracing a more relaxed culture. "Coming with my background, everything, it's about pressure, sacrifice, but in some ways, survival as well," she reflected. "This calm way of thinking, it's actually something I'm missing."
Mentally and physically, Kasatkina believes she is in a better place than during the previous season, which she ended "mentally exhausted" and in need of a break. "Most importantly, mentally I'm much, much better," she confirmed. "So that's the most important thing... I'm really happy with the progress I have done, and now is just about competing well and just about tennis."
This newfound peace is the essence of her social media post. "That's why I wrote 'grateful and free,' because finally I can just breathe," Kasatkina said. "I can live and just do my job and not to be worried about the things which are not in my control." As she steps onto the court at Melbourne Park, she does so not just as a competitor, but as an Australian, ready to give it a crack.
