Daria Kasatkina

The 25-year-old also spoke out against attitudes towards homosexuality and restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights in Russia. “So many subjects are taboo in Russia,” ...

“Not only did Nadya help herself by coming out and get this burden off her chest, she has also helped others,” Kasatkina added. In her interview, which was filmed in Barcelona, Kasatkina expressed fears that she would “never” be able to hold her girlfriend’s hand in Russia. “Living in the closet is impossible. “Living in peace with yourself is the only thing that matters, and fuck everyone else.”

Activists and athletes say this is an important and symbolic moment for rights of LGBTQ+ people in Russia.

In the civilised world, no one should be condemned for this,” said one of the many encouraging comments that were upvoted by other readers. “It is so important for younger people to have role models who are like them. “Well done for saying what you said. “I was ecstatic, jumping around like crazy in my flat.” For them to see that there is absolutely nothing wrong with them,” Karpova added. “The timing is so symbolic as well, with all the fucked-up things happening in Russia.”

Kasatkina, the current world number 12 and a French Open semi-finalist this year, also hit out at the war in Ukraine and fears she may not be able to return ...

I think there is nothing easier in this world than being straight. Asked if she thinks she will ever be able to hold hands with her girlfriend in Russia, Kasatkina responded: “Never – judging by things that are going on now, it will never be OK.” Kasatkina, the current world number 12 and a French Open semi-finalist this year, also hit out at the war in Ukraine and fears she may not be able to return to her homeland.

Russia's highest-ranked women's tennis player, Daria Kasatkina, said in a video interview released Monday that she is dating a woman.

In the interview, she also calls for an end to fighting in Ukraine. Soon after the interview was released, Kasatkina posted a picture on Instagram of her embracing Olympic silver medalist figure skater Natalia Zabiiako with a heart emoji and called Zabiiako “my cutie pie” in a Twitter post. That has restricted LGBTQ advocacy or protest in public forums.

In a YouTube interview, the tennis player said she identifies as lesbian and spoke up about the situation for Russian LGBTQ+ citizens.

It is important for young people who have a hard time with society and need support,” she said. During this global COVID pandemic, we like many other organisations have been impacted greatly in the way we can do business and produce. Living in peace with yourself is the only thing that matters, and f**k everyone else.” In discussion with Kravchenko, Kasatkina spoke of the notion that some people in Russia have that being gay is a choice. These stricter rules are currently under discussion in the nation’s parliament and lawmakers hope to introduce them later this year. At 25 years old, Daria Kasatkina is the world’s number 12 tennis player, reaching the semi-finals of the French Open earlier this year.

Daria Kasatkina, Russia's highest ranked female tennis player, came out as gay in an interview, while addressing rising homophobic attitudes in the country.

"Living in peace with yourself is the only thing that matters." "Living in the closet is impossible. Though same-sex relationships were decriminalized in Russia in 1993, the tides have shifted in recent years.

Daria Kasatkina revealed she is in a relationship with figure skater Natalia Zabiiako, and told Russian blogger Vitya Kravchenko in a video that “living in the ...

Roland-Garros Living in peace with yourself is the only thing that matters, and f*** everyone else,” Kasatkina added. Roland-Garros

After calling the war a “nightmare” and coming out as gay in an interview, Daria Kasatkina, the highest-ranked Russian woman, said she worried for her ...

In a twist of irony, Elena Rybakina, who was born in Russia but opted to represent Kazakhstan four years ago in exchange for funding from that country’s tennis federation, won the Wimbledon women’s singles title. Asked whether two women would ever be able to walk down the street holding hands, she said, “Never.” The move was popular in Britain, according to opinion polls, but received significant pushback from the men’s and women’s tennis tours. Earlier this year, before the invasion, Andrey Rublev, another top Russian player, wrote “No War Please” on a television camera following a match. “I can’t imagine what it’s like to have no home,” she said. Russian players had made no effort to speak with her or express empathy, Tsurenko said. “Even Europe can’t do” anything, she said, using an expletive. They condemned it as discriminatory and decided to withhold rankings points for any victories at Wimbledon. It also represented a dramatic break with precedents of not letting politics interfere with individual athletes’ participation in sports and of limiting punishments taken in reaction to the war to barring Russian and Belarusian teams or any flags or other symbols of the countries from competitions. In April, acting at the behest of the British government, the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which runs Wimbledon, and the Lawn Tennis Association, which oversees the other annual spring and summer tournaments in England, barred Russian and Belarusian players from their tournaments. For the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, a Russian tennis player has publicly criticized the war, a move that may land her in trouble if and when she returns to her home country. For Kasatkina, currently the highest-ranked Russian woman at No. 12, the statements were a rare move for a celebrity of her stature in Russia, where President Vladimir V. Putin has supported a series of laws against speaking out against the war and against expressing favorable views of homosexuality. After calling the war a “nightmare” and coming out as gay in an interview, Daria Kasatkina, the highest-ranked Russian woman, said she worried for her safety if she returned to her home country.

DARIA KASATKINA recently revealed she had a girlfriend and opened up on the struggles of being gay in Russia.

But let Daria not be deceived, no one is interested in what orientation she is and what girl she lives with. Kasatkina was also criticised by another Duma state deputy in Vitaly Milonov - a Russian politician who has become something of a hate figure among the country’s LGBTQ+ community. The Russian No 1 was slammed by two state Duma deputies who took issue with her explaining the difficulties of trying to play professionally while still in Russia.

Daria Kasatkina has become the latest prominent Russian sportswoman to come out as gay and criticised attitudes to homosexuality in her country.

I think there is nothing easier in this world than being straight. Russian lawmakers have proposed extending a ban on the promotion of "non-traditional" sexual relationships to minors to include adults as well. Kasatkina was inspired by Russian football star Nadya Karpova; Russian lawmakers have proposed extending a ban on the promotion of "non-traditional" sexual relationships to minors to include adults as well; Kasatkina has also criticised the ongoing war in Ukraine

The tennis player knows she could be ostracised by her country. I cannot stop thinking about her courage.

That representation is all the more powerful coming from Kasatkina, as she is speaking to a community of people who may not be able to express their identity themselves. Saying anything that publicly contradicts the Russian lie that the invasion of Ukraine is merely a “special military operation” means risking 15 years in jail. LGBTQ+ sportspeople have the power to speak up for those who are not able to speak up for themselves. Now it could be extended to stop people from discussing LGBTQ+ issues with other adults, ban public discussion of LGBTQ+ relationships in a positive or even neutral light, and ban LGBTQ+ content in cinemas. “The subject of being gay, or bi or queer in men’s football is still a taboo,” he told Sky Sports News. “I think it comes down to how a lot of footballers want to be known for their masculinity.” It still takes considerable courage to be open about your sexuality in elite sports, no matter where in the world you live.