- Daria Kasatkina announces engagement to Natalia Zabiiako
- Tennis star defected to Australia after coming out as gay
Aussie tennis star Daria Kasatkina has capped off an exciting few months by getting engaged to her long-term partner, former Olympic skater Natalia Zabiiako.
The world No.17 switched her sporting allegiance to Australia earlier this year after being granted permanent residency following her claims that it was unsafe to return to Russia, due to both her sexuality and her opposition to the war.
The couple shared the delightful news on social media, marking an incredible year for the 28-year-old.
Kasatkina posted a photo of a dazzling diamond ring on Zabiiako’s finger alongside the caption: ‘And just like that.’
Many of the couple’s tennis star friends took to the comment section to offer their well-wishes.
‘Ahh congrats,’ posted Katie Boulter.
Tennis star Daria Kasatkina is set to tie the knot with partner Natalia Zabiiako
The 28-year-old came out as gay and spoke out against the Ukraine War before defecting from Russia to Australia to continue her tennis career
‘I will be at the wedding regardless if you want it or not,’ joked Arina Rodionova.
‘Congrats Dasha and Natalia!!!’ posted Jennifer Brady.
Kasatkina bowed out at Roland Garros on Monday, beaten by the 18-year-old phenom and her fellow Russian-born friend Mirra Andreeva 6-3 7-5 after what the victorious teenager rightly called a ‘hell of a match’ in the fourth round at Roland Garros.
Their 94-minute duel on Court Suzanne Lenglen ended with Kasatkina chucking her wristband jokingly at her conqueror at the net, while Andreeva informed the crowd tongue-in-cheek that she only practised with the Aussie because she hated her.
Just months since being granted permanent residency, Kasatkina’s hopes of becoming the first Australian woman to reach the quarter-finals since Ash Barty’s triumphant year of 2019 may have fallen short, but the 28-year-old, who enjoyed being the ‘last Aussie standing’, smiled: ‘It’s been a good start.
‘First of all it’s been a good result but also, I felt super good to step on the court as an Australian player,’ said the 17th seed.
‘To feel the support from the stands so many times. I don’t know if everyone who was screaming, ‘Aussie’, were from Australia, but I felt this support. Also, on social media I’m getting a lot of support from the Australians that they are so happy to welcome me, and they’re happy for me.
‘So this is the kind of support which I honestly didn’t have before, it feels like it’s something new to me — but it feels so nice.’
The couple shared the delightful news on social media, marking an incredible year for the 28-year-old
When asked if everyone was now allowed to call her ‘an Aussie battler’ after she had given the sixth seed a real scare with her second-set counter-attack when she even earned a set point, Kasatkina offered a wry smile and replied: ‘If you want to…’
The 28-year-old rose as high as No.8 in the world and has won eight WTA titles – her best grand slam result coming at the French Open where she reached the semi-finals in 2022.
Kasatkina has followed the likes of Daria Saville, Ajla Tomljanovic and Arina Rodionova in making eligibility switches.
She is Australia’s new women’s No.1 and the country’s highest-ranked player since Ash Barty retired.
