(Provided by Tennis World USA)
Daria Kasatkina says it “feels much better to be open” but admitted that coming out also brought her certain challenges. Exactly a year ago in 2022 July, 26-year-old Kasatkina came out as gay. At the time, Kasatkina said she “couldn’t live in the closet anymore.” While Kasatkina’s revelation was welcomed within the tennis community, she faced backlash in Russia.
After Kasatkina came out as gay and also criticized the Russian government, a Russian politician attempted to get Kasatkina blacklisted as “a foreign agent.” But a year later, Kasatkina has no regrets about her decision.
Kasatkina reflects on coming out as gay
“It’s hard, but at the same time, I feel much better to be open.
I had to choose, I am in the closet and I am not saying anything, but I don’t feel good inside or I come out with this and, OK I have to face a few problems, but to be myself and I made the right choice for myself and I don’t regret it at all.
Unfortunately, I come from a country where everything is very strict. It is what it is and I have to accept this and I’m happy to be myself and if this means I have to face this problem, it’s my choice. For me, it’s most important how I feel…
