Two-time Olympic hockey champion and State Duma deputy Vyacheslav Fetisov condemned tennis player Daria Kasatkina for changing her citizenship, Sport-Express publication reports.
Fetisov accused Kasatkina of ingratitude, stating that it was her choice that she would have to live with.
"Apparently, there's no point in talking about morality or other values here. I believe we should forget about her and never mention her again," Fetisov said.
Earlier, Fetisov also criticized Kasatkina's parents:
"It seems that Kasatkina was raised in a way that made playing tennis mean finding a new homeland."
On March 29, it was announced that Kasatkina now represents Australia. The former Russian player currently holds the 12th position in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) rankings.
Daria Kasatkina officially changed her sporting nationality to Australian. She shared the news on her social media page. She revealed that the Australian government approved her application for permanent residency.
"Australia is a place that I love and where I truly feel at home," she emphasized.
The tennis player noted that she enjoys being in Melbourne and hopes to settle down in the country as soon as possible.
"I will always be proud of my roots, but I am looking forward to competing under the Australian flag," she concluded.
Kasatkina tumbled out of the 2025 Australian Open in January. Ranked 12th in the WTA and previously Russia's top-ranked player, she achieved her best career result at the Australian Open this season. The only Russian player to reach the quarterfinals of the tournament was Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.