Darja Kassatkina is currently number twelve in the world tennis rankings.
Image: dpa
Russia’s top tennis player has come out as gay. At the same time, Darja Kassatkina criticizes that Russia has too many “forbidden topics” and calls for a more open approach to them in public.
Dhe Russian tennis player Darya Kassatkina has made her homosexuality public. In a video interview with blogger Vitya Kravchenko published on Monday, she also criticized the fact that there were a number of “forbidden topics” in Russia. “For young people who face problems in public, it is very important if athletes or other well-known figures talk about it,” Kassatkina said. She has a life partner, she confirmed when asked.
In this context, Kassatkina also praised the Russian footballer Nadezhda Karpova, who was the first Russian athlete to come out as homosexual at the beginning of June. Kassatkina criticized that there are a lot of topics in Russia that shouldn’t be talked about. Homosexuality is not even the most important thing. There was movement towards more openness at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but this process has stopped. “The road has been blocked. Road works,” Kassatkina said wryly.
Kassatkina is number 12 in the world tennis rankings, making her the highest-ranked Russian at the moment. The 25-year-old has won four Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) titles in her career so far.
