World no.17 has announced her engagement to former Olympic skater Natalia Zabiiako
BY BELLA FRANCIS, IMAGE VIA INSTAGRAM (@NATALIA_ZABIIAKO)
On Saturday (7 June), Tennis star Daria Kasatkina announced her engagement to former Olympic skater Natalia Zabiiako.
This news came after she was granted permission to switch her sporting allegiance from Russia to Australia back in March following her claims that it was unsafe to return to Russia, due to both her sexuality and her opposition to the war.
“For me, being openly gay, if I want to be myself, I have to make this step, and I did it,” she said at the time.
The pair, who announced their relationship in 2022, took to Instagram to share the happy news.
Their comments were flooded with support, with British number one Katie Boulter saying “Ahhh 
The pair now spend most of their time travelling due to Kasatkina’s tennis career, and so they have started a YouTube channel together called What The Vlog, where they film their tennis adventures.
Katina bowed out of Roland Garros after being beaten by the 18-year-old phenom and her fellow Russian-born friend Mirra Andreeva. Although it was a disappointment, the 28-year-old was proud to be the “last Aussie standing”.
“First of all, it’s been a good result but also, I felt super good to step on the court as an Australian player,” she said.
“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.”
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