Russian tennis star appears to hit back at state's 'crime' claim after coming out as gay

Daria Kasatkina has appeared to hit back at claims she committed a "crime against the state" for her comments in a YouTube video in which she came out as gay and admitted prospective young Russian tennis players should change citizenship. The Russian No 1 was slammed by two state Duma deputies who took issue with her explaining the difficulties of trying to play professionally while still in Russia.

Kasatkina made waves in the tennis community when Russian blogger Vitya Kravchenko shared a lengthy YouTube video after spending time with the WTA world No 12 and ATP world No 8 Andrey Rublev. The 25-year-old has since been praised for her courage to come out as gay and confirm she has a girlfriend in the video, as well as using her platform to condemn the war, speak out against the taboo of homosexuality in Russia, and encourage Russian children to change citizenship if they want to play tennis.

"Friends have their own tennis club, yet they can't buy tennis balls, sneakers, rackets, bags, nothing," she said of the difficulty to get into pro tennis while still in Russia. "I think lots of talented children would get new citizenship with some help from their parents. As for kids, if you have such privilege then go for it."

State Duma deputy Roman Teryushkov took to Russian social media site Telegram to write: "Having publicly admitted her non-traditional sexual orientation, the first racket of Russia, Daria Kasatkina, urged young athletes to change their citizenship." And the world No 12 has now appeared to take aim at the criminal claim in a post with her girlfriend, figure skater Natalia Zabiiako.

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