'It's very important when athletes talk about it': Russian tennis star comes out as gay

The Russian tennis number one also said she has a partner and said it was important for "well-known personality" to talk about being gay.

Tennis Internationals -  2022 Australian Open, WTA Grand Slam tennis tournament

Daria Kasatkina is Russia's top-ranked tennis player. Source: AAP / IPA/Sipa USA

Russian tennis player Daria Kasatkina has announced she is gay and has a partner.

Kasatkina is Russia's top-ranked player and the world number 12.

In a video interview with Russian blogger Vitya Kravchenko, she also criticised the fact there are so many "taboo topics" in Russia.

"Living in peace with yourself is the only thing that matters, f**k everyone else," Kasatkina said.

"For young people facing problems in public, it is very important when athletes or other well-known personalities talk about it," she said.
The 25-year-old, who has won four WTA titles, praised Russian footballer Nadezhda Karpova for opening the door after becoming the first female Russian sportswoman to come out in June.

There had been movement toward more openness at the 2018 football World Cup in Russia, Kasatkina said, but no longer as Russia closes ranks following the invasion of Ukraine.


"The way was closed. Road works," Kasatkina said.


Same-sex relationship are generally frowned upon in Russia.

Russian politicians have proposed extending a ban on the promotion of "non-traditional" sexual relationships to minors to include adults as well.

Russia's existing "gay propaganda" law, passed in 2013, has been used to stop gay pride marches and detain gay rights activists.

Authorities say they are defending morality in the face of what they argue are un-Russian liberal values promoted by the West, but human rights activists say the law has been broadly applied to intimidate Russia's LGBT community.

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Published 19 July 2022 6:32am
Updated 19 July 2022 10:58am
Source: AAP


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