Russian-born Daria Kasatkina says she can “finally breathe” as she prepares for her first Australian Open as a house participant.
Kasatkina has gained Australian citizenship within the build-up to the event, having performed as a impartial athlete since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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The 28-year-old has not returned to Russia since popping out as homosexual in the identical 12 months, and has described the warfare in Ukraine as a “nightmare”.
“Finally I can just breathe. I can live and just do my job and not be worried about the things which are not in my control,” mentioned the previous world quantity eight.
“The last season was very, very tough. I was trying to get out of this hole basically.”
Kasatkina ended her 2025 season early, having said in October that “mentally and emotionally I am at breaking point”.
She will start her event in opposition to Czech teenager Nikola Bartunkova, and the brand new Australian quantity two will count on to obtain enormous assist in Melbourne.
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“For the first time I’m going to play in front of such a big home crowd, so that’s going to be special,” Kasatkina mentioned.
“I have to manage my nerves, because I’ve never been in this situation before.
“This is an effective stress, so I might select this one in comparison with what I’ve been by means of up to now couple of years.
“Now basically I’m going to play a home Slam and that’s a really special chapter in my life.
Teen Andreeva claims fourth tour title
Kasatkina’s friend and former compatriot Mirra Andreeva is established as Russia’s top women’s player for now.
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The world number eight claimed her fourth WTA title with a 6-3 6-1 victory over fellow teenager Victoria Mboko in the Adelaide International final on Saturday.
The 18-year-old fought back from 3-0 down in the opening set, winning six consecutive games.
She then broke early in the second set and sealed the match on serve against 19-year-old Canadian Mboko.
Andreeva, who won back-to-back WTA 1,000 titles last year in Dubai and Indian Wells, will face Paris Olympics silver medallist Donna Vekic in the opening round of the Grand Slam at Melbourne Park.
In Auckland, Czech Jakub Mensik took the men’s title with a 6-3 7-6 (9-7) win over Sebastian Baez of Argentina.
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Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto beat American Iva Jovic 6-4 6-4 in Hobart to claim her first WTA title since 2023.
The Australian Open starts in Melbourne on Sunday.