Daria Kasatkina - 'Ukrainians are my friends and I want to show them love"'

| by Tom Grant

World No.8 Daria Kasatkina has spoken for the first time about Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine admitting she just wants the war to end.

The 25-year-old was speaking as the year anniversary of Russian troops crossing the border into Ukraine igniting the return of wartime to mainland Europe approaches.

Kasatkina - who has won six WTA titles in her career - was banned from Wimbledon alongside fellow Russian and Belarussian players last year due to the illegal invasion, but the player insists it is her Ukrainian colleagues who people should be supporting, not her.

The player said:

“I have so many friends and people I know from Ukraine. And hearing the stories from what they’re telling me, it’s painful because I’m thinking what if I’m in their spots. It’s very tough and it’s been almost a year living in these circumstances, and of course I want this [the war started by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine] to end as soon as possible, but unfortunately it’s not depending on us. They’re my friends and I want to show them love and support as well. It’s tough. For them it’s more difficult than me for example.”

Having arrived in Melbourne to prepare for the Australian Open, the Russian was asked about the prospect of returning to Russia, and revealed she hadn’t seen her father for two years due a mix of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic followed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, making life quite turbulent for the young player recently.

“You never know how the situation is going to turn out. I realise you don’t have to look too far forwards, because you don’t know what’s going to be around the corner, you don’t know what is going to be tomorrow,” she added.

Kasatkina also came out as gay las July, revealing a relationship with figure skater Natalia Zabiiako. to her Instagram followers.

Top candidates to qualify for 2022 WTA Finals
Top candidates to qualify for 2022 WTA Finals
"One of the best decisions of the last year" - Kasatkina on coming out
"One of the best decisions of the last year" - Kasatkina on coming out

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