Taking part in underneath the Australian flag for the primary time in her profession, Daria Kasatkina delivered a commanding 6-1 6-1 victory over Lauren Davis within the second spherical of the Credit score One Charleston Open.
Since 2022, Kasatkina has competed as a impartial athlete after gamers from Russia and Belarus have been barred from nationwide illustration because of the invasion of Ukraine. Final week, she formally introduced that she had gained everlasting residency in Australia and would now compete underneath its flag. The Tolyatti-born star described the transition as each essential and emotional.
Seeded third in Charleston, Kasatkina obtained a first-round bye earlier than making fast work of Davis in simply 61 minutes. The world No. 12 Kasatkina is Australia’s top-ranked WTA participant. The second-highest-ranked Australian, Kimberly Birrell, sits at No. 62. Australia at the moment has 5 WTA gamers within the High 100, with Olivia Gadecki—born in Gold Coast and of Polish descent—being the one one born within the nation.
Throughout her on-court interview, Kasatkina shared her feelings concerning the life-changing second:
I couldn’t deal with my smile, regardless that I used to be a bit pressured earlier than the match. Stepping on courtroom with the brand new standing, with the brand new flag, it was fairly tense. I had this little baggage of the nerves, and it at all times explodes as quickly as you step on courtroom. I’m blissful I used to be in a position to deal with that.
The 27-year-old Kasatkina isn’t any stranger to success in Charleston, having claimed her maiden WTA title on the match in 2017.
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