Daria Kasatkina

Daria Kasatkina is a Russian professional tennis player known for her creative shot-making, with a career-high ranking inside the world top 10.

Daria Kasatkina was born in Togliatti, Russia, and turned professional, developing into one of the most tactically creative and versatile players on the WTA Tour, renowned for an inventive shot selection that includes frequent drop shots and unconventional angles rarely seen in the modern power game. Kasatkina reached the semi-finals of the French Open in June 2022, and the following month, in a July 2022 YouTube interview, publicly came out as gay, revealing she was in a relationship with fellow Russian athlete and Olympic figure skater Natalia Zabiiako. She said she believed "living in the closet" was unsustainable and hoped her example could support other young people in similar situations. Kasatkina's public statements — coming out and also calling for an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine — placed her in a difficult position with her home country, whose government has designated the LGBT movement as extremist. She said she felt unsafe holding her partner's hand in Russia and has not returned to the country since. In 2025, Kasatkina was granted permanent residency in Australia and began competing under the Australian flag, describing the change as emotional but necessary to live authentically as herself, having lived and trained in Spain and Dubai in the years prior.

Kasatkina is known for her solid baseline game and exceptional court coverage. She employs a defensive counter-punching style, using her speed and anticipation to retrieve difficult shots and turn defense into attack. Her backhand is particularly strong, and she excels at constructing points patiently from the baseline.

Kasatkina has established herself as one of the most consistent Russian players of her generation, maintaining a strong presence in the WTA top rankings throughout her career.

• 8 WTA singles titles
• Billie Jean King Cup champion (2021)