Sawt Falasteen - Kasatkina feels pressure to 'repay Australia' after Russia switch

The openly gay 28-year-old changed allegiance to Australia last March having criticised Russia's attitude towards LGBTQ people and described the war in Ukraine as a "nightmare".

The former world number eight, now ranked 40, was almost in tears on Sunday before her first-round match in Brisbane after being given a warm reception by the home crowd.

Kasatkina lost in three sets to Anastasia Potapova, who herself gave up representing Russia last year and now plays for Austria.

"Honestly, when I was stepping on court with all the cheers and everything, I almost started crying," said Kasatkina.

"But I was able to hold it. I wanted to win so much and feel this extra energy by the end of the match, but unfortunately it didn't happen."

Kasatkina was playing for the first time since ending her 2025 season early, having said in October that "mentally and emotionally I am at breaking point".

Speaking on Sunday, she said: "I have been through a tough year, now I'm fine, but still I have to get out of the deep hole right now.

"I have been through these sort of challenges before in my career a couple of times," she added.

Kasatkina, who has won eight singles titles, said that she felt "a weight on my shoulders" of delivering for her new country.

"Only I put this pressure on me because I want to show, I want to represent Australia, show the result and everything," she said.

"Of course when it's not happening, I feel bad. Even I know that nobody's expecting me to do so, I'm expecting myself to kind of pay back the country and stuff."

Four Russian women tennis players changed nationalities in 2025.

Along with Kasatkina and Potapova, Kamilla Rakhimova and Maria Timofeeva both changed allegiances to Uzbekistan.

Kasatkina said she didn't know if any more would follow.

"I honestly don't know if more are coming or not because everyone keeps these things as a secret till the last moment," she said.

"I don't know, it's been already a lot of girls who switched. So maybe yes, maybe no. It's a confidential thing and I don't know any gossip, unfortunately for you."

L.AbuTayeh--SF-PST