World No. 12 Daria Kasatkina is set to represent Australia in tennis after obtaining permanent residency.
The 27-year-old tennis star announced her decision on Instagram this Friday, stating her intention to settle in Melbourne and compete under the Australian flag.
In her Instagram post, Kasatkina expressed her love for Australia, describing it as a welcoming place where she feels completely at home. She proudly declared her decision to represent her new homeland, Australia, in her professional tennis career moving forward.
Previously, she had been competing under a neutral flag since 2022, following the ban on Russian and Belarusian national representation in sports due to the situation in Ukraine.
Kasatkina`s achievements include reaching the French Open semifinals in 2022 and winning eight WTA singles titles. Her highest career ranking is No. 8.
Tennis Australia confirmed on Saturday that Kasatkina’s permanent residency had been approved.
Tennis Australia welcomed her to the “Aussie tennis family” in a response to her announcement, and the Australian Open`s official Instagram account added a warm welcome, “Dasha Down Under.”
This season, Kasatkina holds a 9–8 record, with her best performance being reaching the Round of 16 at the Australian Open.
Jasper Hawthorne 
Dominic Ashworth