Russian tennis star ‘scared’ about Ukraine war as she returns to UK after ban

Daria Kasatkina has discussed the situation in her home country of Russia after she made her return to the UK. Russians were banned from British grass-court tournaments last year and the world No 11 got off to a winning start in Eastbourne on Monday. Kasatkina admitted she doesn’t see an end to the war with Ukraine anytime soon and that she was left scared for her friends when they were caught up in this weekend’s 24-hour mutiny by Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner group.

Kasatkina has been one of the most outspoken Russian tennis players throughout the ongoing war in Ukraine. The 26-year-old has continued to condemn her country’s actions and has been respecting her Ukrainian opponents’ wishes not to shake hands after matches.

After Russians were banned from last year’s British tennis tournaments, she made a winning return in Eastbourne on Monday against Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina. “I’m really glad to be back and to have this opportunity to play the tournaments, and Wimbledon included,” Kasatkina said after her 6-3 6-1 victory.

But the world No 11 admitted that things were tough as she came to the tournament just days after a Russian mercenary group attempted a coup and started advancing on Moscow before retreating. Kasatkina said: “Feels s**t, honestly.

“I’m not gonna hide it. It’s tough to, you know, to face the circumstances for such a long time already. Unfortunately, as we see, particularly me or like tennis players, nothing we can do about it, so we have to just follow what’s going on. You know, me personally, I’m just trying to be a good human in this scenario. That’s all I can do. And do my job as playing tennis. That’s it.” 

While Kasatkina is currently based in Dubai, her loved ones are still at home in Russia and some of her friends live in Voronezh – where Wagner fighters moved through en route to Moscow. It left the 26-year-old in fear for her friends as she tried to move them to her old city to get away.

“Well, yeah, of course I have friends in Russia. My family, my parents are still in Russia. Well, as you can see, the last few days it’s been a big mess also there,” she added. “Of course I’m worried. I’m worried for my friends, because my best friends, they actually live in Voronezh, where was one of the biggest, you know, few days ago, there was – sorry not know in English how to say these words.

She continued: “Yeah, we just, I mean, obviously their experience, Ukrainians, they are experiencing way worse situation, but also, I mean, I can feel the same. I’m very worried for the people I love. 

“Yeah, it is what it is. Unfortunately we have to live in this scenario now. This is the part of our lives. Yeah, it’s been a tough year, and we don’t know how long it’s going to be. Yeah, we have to just follow the news. Honestly, so far I don’t see the end. We have to just accept.”