Former Charleston Open champion Daria Kasatkina`s dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory in the second round against wild card Lauren Davis marked not only the beginning of her 2025 tournament but also a significant new phase in her career as she now competes for Australia.
Kasatkina had been playing as a neutral athlete since 2022, following restrictions that prevented Russian and Belarusian players from representing their nations after the invasion of Ukraine. Recently, she announced that she had obtained permanent residency in Australia and would be representing the country going forward.
Leading up to Charleston, a tournament where she secured her first Hologic WTA Tour title in 2017, the No. 5 seed Kasatkina revealed that her sexual orientation was a crucial factor in her decision. In 2023, the Russian government classified what it termed the `international LGBT movement` as `extremist`.
`Given the current situation in my home country, I felt I had limited options,` Kasatkina shared with Ben Rothenberg at Bounces. `Being openly gay, I realized that embracing my true self necessitated this move.`
The world No. 12 Kasatkina displayed impressive form both during and after her debut match as Australia`s top-ranked player, significantly ahead of Kimberly Birrell, the country`s No. 2 ranked at No. 62. She swiftly defeated Davis in just 61 minutes and then engaged in a cheerful on-court interview with Andrew Krasny.
`I couldn`t stop smiling, even though I was a bit nervous before the match,` she confessed to Krasny. `Stepping onto the court with my new status and under a new flag was quite stressful. I carried some nerves, which always disappear once I start playing. I`m just happy I managed to cope with it.`
As the crowd applauded enthusiastically and Krasny gave her a high-five, Kasatkina`s smile widened as she expressed her gratitude for the support.
`The past couple of years have been challenging, so I am truly happy to be here and feel this way,` she concluded.
Jasper Hawthorne 
Dominic Ashworth