Daria Kasatkina
A Russian-born tennis star with a versatile, tactical game who became an Australian citizen and a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in sports.
Born 1997 (age 29)·Australian tennis player·Birthday: May 7·Generation Z
Biography
Daria Kasatkina's tennis is a study in artistry and grit. Unlike power-focused contemporaries, she built her game on variety—employing slices, drop shots, and heavy topspin with both hands off the ground—to construct points with the precision of a chess player. Born in Tolyatti, Russia, she rose steadily through the ranks, claiming her first WTA title in 2017. Her breakthrough came on the clay of Roland Garros in 2022, where her clever game carried her to the semifinals, cementing her top-10 status. Beyond the baseline, Kasatkina's life took a significant turn. In 2023, she became an Australian citizen and made headlines by openly discussing her relationship with fellow figure skater Natalia Zabiiako, becoming one of the most prominent athletes in her sport to speak publicly about being in a same-sex relationship. This courage, paired with her unique playing style, has made her a respected and distinctive figure on the tour.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Daria was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Daria Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Daria's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Reached the semifinals of the French Open in 2022, her best Grand Slam singles result.
- Achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 8 in October 2022.
- Has won eight WTA Tour singles titles, including the 2023 Eastbourne International on grass.
- Won the 2023 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open, defeating top-10 players Elena Rybakina and Beatriz Haddad Maia back-to-back.
Did You Know?
She is one of the few players on tour to use a two-handed forehand and backhand.
She is a devoted fan of FC Barcelona.
She has a tattoo of a shark on her arm, inspired by her love for the animal.
She publicly came out as gay in a 2022 interview, citing the difficult climate for LGBTQ+ people in Russia as a reason for her relocation.
“I'm not going to hide just to make some people feel better.”
