New Australian Kasatkina can ‘finally breathe’

Russian-born Daria Kasatkina says she can “finally breathe” as she prepares for her first Australian Open as a home player.

Kasatkina has gained Australian citizenship in the build-up to the tournament, having played as a neutral athlete since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The 28-year-old has not returned to Russia since coming out as gay in the same year, and has described the war in Ukraine as a “nightmare”.

“Finally I can just breathe. I can live and just do my job and not be worried about the things which are not in my control,” said the former world number eight.

“The last season was very, very tough. I was trying to get out of this hole basically.”

Kasatkina ended her 2025 season early, having said in October that “mentally and emotionally I am at breaking point”.

She will begin her tournament against Czech teenager Nikola Bartunkova, and the new Australian number two will expect to receive huge support in Melbourne.

“For the first time I’m going to play in front of such a big home crowd, so that’s going to be special,” Kasatkina said.

“I have to manage my nerves, because I’ve never been in this situation before.

“This is a good pressure, so I would choose this one compared to what I have been through in the past couple of years.

“Now basically I’m going to play a home Slam and that’s a really special chapter in my life.

Kasatkina’s friend and former compatriot Mirra Andreeva is established as Russia’s top women’s player for now.

The world number eight claimed her fourth WTA title with a 6-3 6-1 victory over fellow teenager Victoria Mboko in the Adelaide International final on Saturday.

The 18-year-old fought back from 3-0 down in the opening set, winning six consecutive games.

She then broke early in the second set and sealed the match on serve against 19-year-old Canadian Mboko.

Andreeva, who won back-to-back WTA 1,000 titles last year in Dubai and Indian Wells, will face Paris Olympics silver medallist Donna Vekic in the opening round of the Grand Slam at Melbourne Park.

In Auckland, Czech Jakub Mensik took the men’s title with a 6-3 7-6 (9-7) win over Sebastian Baez of Argentina.

Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto beat American Iva Jovic 6-4 6-4 in Hobart to claim her first WTA title since 2023.

The Australian Open starts in Melbourne on Sunday.