DANIEL ISLAND – Fans on Stadium court on Wednesday saw 2017 Charleston champion Daria Kasatkina as she was facing American Lauren Davis. Kasatkina had an easy day dispatching Davis in straight set, 6-1, 6-1 in 63-minutes but the big news of the tournament is the fact Kasatkina has just been granted Australian citizenship.
In post-match press, most questions were asked on her new homeland especially when walking into
Credit One Stadium for the first time as an Australian.
“I mean, first of all, I felt it would be strange, obviously, being called player from Australia,”Kasatkina admitted. “So, I couldn’t handle my smile and then on the warm-up was the same. I’ve got such
a warm welcome from the crowd. So I think just altogether it made this amazing mix of emotions.”
The only downfall, if there is a downfall at all, is the jokes she’s been hearing on learning Australian slang. “Like some of them (players), they’re trying to talk with me with a slang,” Kasatkina said
amusingly. “Then, yeah, everyone is calling me Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! I’m like, yeah, I am. What’s funny?”
Knowing she is an Australian didn’t sink in until she actually saw her name on TV with her name next the Australian flag. “I saw the flag next to my name, yesterday I was watching tennis and they showed the schedule for today, and I was like the first one on the schedule,” Kasatkina remarked. “I checked the schedule on the app, and again, I saw the flag.”
“I’m like, it’s going to be real! I needed a little bit of time to digest all this. It’s something completely new to me, but I really like it, honestly.”
So far the reaction from other players on the tour has been positive, admitting, “All I see is support and, I don’t know, just like supportive stuff, and, yeah, and jokes in a good way. Everything’s been good.”
When asked if she considered other countries to choose for citizenship, she said she considered Spain and Emirates for a few years until she picked Australia. “Australia is an amazing country to live,” Kasatkina said. “It’s a bit far, but it’s an amazing country, honestly. Like the people there, the nature, like how society is there, it’s just – like the community there, it’s great. Everyone lives in peace, more or less. So one of the best balances I ever saw with my life.”
“So, yeah, I couldn’t ask for a better place.”
–Tony Callaio for Tennis Atlantic
Tennis Atlantic 
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