Australian player Kassatkina addresses the query regarding representational commitment.
Daria Kasatkina, the former top-ranked Russian tennis player, confirmed during the Roland Garros tournament that she has yet to receive her Australian passport, despite successfully obtaining a residence permit at the end of March. Kasatkina is now competing for Australia, having officially switched her nationality.
Speaking to the media, Kasatkina expressed her hope that the passport application process will be completed as soon as possible. "There's a set procedure that I am following. We're doing our best to fulfill all requirements," Sports.ru reported her saying.
Kasatkina, who won the Billie Jean King Cup with the Russian team in 2021, noted that the situation regarding her participation in the competition for Australia is more complex. She stated, "This is a matter that Tennis Australia needs to address with the ITF. It's a separate conversation, and I won't be involved in it."
The switch to Australian nationality, which became effective earlier this year, has been recognized and allows Kasatkina to compete under the Australian flag in tournaments. Despite the geopolitical context surrounding her Russian origins and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Kasatkina's eligibility to represent Australia in competitions like the Billie Jean King Cup appears unhindered.
Daria Kasatkina expressed her hope that the passport application process, necessary for her full representation as an Australian tennis player, will be completed soon. In a separate conversation, she acknowledged that the complexity of her participation in the Billie Jean King Cup for Australia requires Tennis Australia to have a dialogue with the ITF about her eligibility.
