Kasatkina Jokes About Playing 'Under Rainbow Flag' Instead Of Neutral

| by Alex Waite

Daria Kasatkina jokingly expressed her desire to play under the rainbow flag to represent her sexuality amidst the ban on Russian competitors playing under the nation's flag.

Kasatkina has previously spoken out about her sexuality with openness after she publically shared that she was homosexual in 2022. Despite positivity about revealing her sexuality, the Russian WTA player has received backlash from politicians and public figures in her home nation.

In addition, WTA and ATP players have been unable to represent Russia under the nation's flag at competitions since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. When discussing the war and her sexuality with the New York Times recently, Kasatkina produced a cheeky response when asked about her feelings towards playing as a neutral in competitions.

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"I want to ask the WTA if I can play under the rainbow flag."

Kasatkina told the New York Times

Despite Kasatkina's ability to make light of the difficult situations surrounding Russia, the LGBTQ+ community and the war in Ukraine, the world number 14 player also shared some of her personal views on her home nation. However, even though Russia is in a period of trouble, the 26-year-old also expressed a passion for her country.

"Everything was just so messed up already. It’s a war. The laws in our country are getting worse and worse. I realize to be a gay person in Russia, it’s becoming impossible. And all this together makes me say what I feel and what I want to say. And I just couldn’t be silent anymore about myself, about the war.”

 “I really love my country, I love the people.”

Currently, world number 14 Kasatkina is competing at the US Open and she came back from a set down in the first round to defeat home player Alycia Parks. Next up, the Russian will face another US native in Sofia Kenin in the second round.

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