Togliatti-born Daria Kasatkina has at all times represented Russia on the WTA Tour and is at present the highest-ranked participant from her nation. Nevertheless, a latest draw ceremony on the Abu Dhabi Open precipitated widespread confusion when the Spanish flag was mistakenly displayed subsequent to her title, main many to consider she had switched her citizenship.
Moreover, Kasatkina has been vocal in her criticism of Russia’s LGBTQ+ legal guidelines and her opposition to the struggle in Ukraine. As quickly because the Spanish flag appeared beside her title, social media was abuzz with hypothesis relating to a doable nationality change.
Finally, the match clarified the state of affairs, admitting the error and issuing an apology.
“We sincerely apologise for the error made by one of our suppliers during the live draw, whereby an incorrect nationality was shown alongside the name of Daria Kasatkina,” the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open reported on its social networks. “This was entirely an administrative mistake and has now been corrected.”
For the reason that begin of the Ukraine-Russia struggle, Kasatkina and different Russian gamers have competed as neutrals at tournaments, with out a flag subsequent to their names. The error in Abu Dhabi has sparked concern inside Kasatkina’s administration staff, who known as the incident “potentially quite harmful.” “This carries some strong implications for Daria if the Russian authorities feel she is trying to switch—which she is not,” they acknowledged.
Because the third seed, Kasatkina has a first-round bye on the Abu Dhabi Open and awaits the winner of an all-American conflict between McCartney Kessler and Ashlyn Krueger. The WTA 500 occasion within the United Arab Emirates encompasses a star-studded discipline, together with Elena Rybakina, Paula Badosa, Leylah Fernandez, Ons Jabeur, and Emma Raducanu, amongst others. (supply: Tennis Up To Date)
