Russia’s highest ranking single tennis player, Daria Kasatkina revealed that she’s gay and criticized her country’s treatment of the LGBTQ+ community. The athlete opened up about her views & personal life in an interview with Russian blogger Vitya Kravchenko, Kasatkina also said that the war in Ukraine must end.
In the same interview Kasatkina was asked when she believes it will be ok for same-sex couples to hold hands in public in Russia, to which she replied, “never.” “For young people facing problems in public, it is very important when athletes or other well-known personalities talk about it,” she added. Although being gay isn’t banned in Russia, the country is infamous for it’s repressive policies and human rights violations. The athlete revealed that she has a girlfriend and opened up about being scared to return home to Russia. Russian citizens who have openly criticized the war in Ukraine have faced fines and prison sentences.
Russian & Belarusian players were banned from competing at Wimbledon this year because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Players from both countries will be allowed to play under a neutral flag at the U.S. Open next month. Kasatkina is currently ranked number 12 worldwide and reached the semi-finals in the French open last month.