According to sources, covering Daria Kasatkina’s sexuality and connection with figure skater Natalia Zabiiako is frowned upon in Russia.
Daria Kasatkina, ranked 15th in the WTA rankings, announced her homosexuality in June 2022.
She then disclosed that she had started dating figure skater Natalia Zabiiako about the same period.
Kasatkina and her girlfriend’s relationship has only grown since then.
Despite the continual condemnation that the LGBT population endures in Russia, Zabiiako has been observed in the 26-year-old’s players’ box at events regularly.
In light of this, a famous Russian journalist recently spoke to an Italian tabloid about Daria Kasatkina’s reception in Russia.
According to him, the pair has been ignored by the media in their own country as a result of the
Supreme Court’s finding last November that the LGBT movement is an “extremist organization.”
According to the journalist, Russia’s Supreme Court declared on November 30th that the “international LGBT movement” is
an “extremist organization,” putting all kinds of LGBT rights campaigning in jeopardy.
As a result of the new heinous law, it is now dangerous for journalists to publish anything about
Kasatkina’s sexuality or connection with Natalia Zabiiako in Russian media.
According to the new regulations, promoting the LGBT community is a criminal offense punishable by up to 12 years in jail.
Daria Kasatkina is not in danger because she lives in Spain, but she will receive far less publicity from Russian news channels as a result of the aforementioned incident.
I work for a major Russian sports website, and we may only discuss her in the context of tennis.
And, sadly, as a journalist, I lack freedom of expression.
According to his colleagues, the new law’s definitions are imprecise and ambiguous, allowing the government to wield them against anybody it dislikes.
Daria Kasatkina is seeking redemption in 2024 after a rather quiet year
Meanwhile, Daria Kasatkina had a decent season in 2023, posting a 41-26 win/loss record on the women’s circuit.
Her season highlights included becoming runner-up at two 500-level events in Adelaide and Eastbourne,
as well as reaching the last four at the WTA Elite Trophy in November.
Having said that, Kasatkina failed to perform well in Grand Slam tournaments last year.
She reached the second week of Roland Garros and the US Open, but lost in the first round and third round in the Australian Open and Wimbledon, respectively.
Although she didn’t make much of an effect in the major events, the 26-year-old did win a lot of matches throughout the season.
In 2024, she hopes to advance further in the Major competitions.
The Russian has already had a successful season, reaching the quarterfinals of the Brisbane International last week.
In the following week, she will attempt to get past the third round of the Melbourne Slam for the first time in her career.
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