Russia’s tennis star Daria Kasatkina opens on Switch to play for Australia; Australian Open; Billie Jean King Cup; WTA tour

AT provided Kasatkina a letter to support her question “for people who have an internationally recognized record of exceptional and exceptional results in an admissible area”, which includes sport.

A spokesman told this Masthead that the Department of Internal Affairs could not comment on individual cases.

“While the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 provides a series of ministerial discretions that can be applied to help a person meet the general residence requirement in specific circumstances,” said the spokesman, “there is no general power to renounce or vary the eligibility requirements for Australian citizenship”.

Kasatkina has not returned to Russia for almost three years since she announced that she was gay, and in a relationship with the Olympic skater of Olympic Silver Medal Natalia Zabiiako figures, in an interview in July 2022. Kasatkina also sentenced the invasion of the Ukraine of her country of birth.

Some Russians marked Kasatkina a “traitor” for his decision to become an Australian.

Novaya Gazeta Europe They reported comments from several athletes and politicians who were critical of Kasatkina, including the Olympic Speed ​​Speed ​​Speed ​​Schooling Champion, who is also a political member of the state Duma.

Zhurova said that Kasatkina was “Russian by birth, but grown with western values”, according to an English translation in the independent publication Meduza.

“Kasatkina has special reasons to change her citizenship. Everyone knows what they are; simply don’t say them aloud,” said Zhurova. “People are already calling her a traitor and slapped them labels on her. That’s why she is afraid to return to Russia-and the cause of her non-traditional values.”

The Supreme Court of Russia has put out the “LGBT international movement” as an “extremist” organization in November 2023. Kasatkina said that she had no other choice than to change nationality, given “everything that is happening in my previous country”.

“For me, being openly gay, if I want to be myself, I had to take this step,” he said.

“Australia is the place where I can be myself and I am really happy to have this privilege of being part of this beautiful country.”

Kasatkina lives in Dubai and often trains in Barcelona, ​​but the United Arab Emirates also criminal the sexual activity of the same sex.

There is an ongoing process for Kasatkina to potentially receive a special exemption to represent his country adopted in the Billie Jean King Cup. However, it is not clear whether it will be successful or how long it will take us even if it is.

The International Tennis Federation has changed the rules from 1 January 2015 to prevent players from representing more than a country in the BJK Cup or in the Davis Cup, but players and/or federations can request exemption.

Kasatkina was a key member of the victory of the title of the Bjk Cup of the Russian tennis Federation in 2021, when the country was banned from international sport for doping violations.

Any decision on the admissibility of Kasatkina for Australia will not be taken in time for her to play in the qualification of the Billie Jean King Cup next week in Brisbane against Kazakhstan and Colombia.

Part of the exemption request, a source that is familiar with the situation told to this masthead on condition of anonymity, is based on the fact that Kasatkina is effectively “stateless”, a person not considered national by any state pursuant to the functioning of his law. This masthead contacted ITF for a comment.

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Ajla Tomljanovic, who changed alliances from Croatia to Australia, successfully appealed to the change of the rules on the basis that applied for an Australian passport before it was implemented.

However, five years have passed between his residence by earning in 2014 and the ITF made it possible to represent Australia in the BJK Cup. It has become a town in 2018.

Tomljanovic was among the Australians to warmly welcome Kasatkina.

“He is an extraordinary person, an extraordinary player, and I just want to be able to play for us – in the Bjk Cup and in the Olympics,” said Tomljanovic. “It’s an incredible addition … he adapts to everything Australian, so I’m excited for her.”

It is likely that Kasatkina will complete a training block in Melbourne Park at some point this year, the same source told this masthead.

Shares the same agent, John Morris of Group 72As a high -level Australian player, Alex de Minaur. Morris was also used to represent Nick Kyrgios.

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