Daria Kasatkina

Daria Kasatkina is a Russian-born Australian professional tennis player known for her crafty, tactical game and sharp tennis IQ. She reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 8 in October 2022 and has won eight WTA Tour singles titles plus one in doubles. Her best Grand Slam results include a semifinal run at the 2022 French Open and a quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon in 2018.

As of 2026, Kasatkina represents Australia as its No. 1 player, a switch she made in 2025 after publicly condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine and coming out as lesbian in 2022. She is also a prominent LGBTQ+ role model in sports. Off the court, she co-hosts the popular YouTube vlog What The Vlog with her wife, Olympic figure skater Natalia Zabiiako, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at life on tour. [edit]

Daria Kasatkina was born on May 7, 1997, in Tolyatti, a city about 1,000 kilometers southeast of Moscow. Her parents were both nationally ranked athletes—her father in athletics and her mother in ice hockey—but it was her older brother Alexander who first handed her a tennis racket when she was six, setting her on a path that would define her life. Growing up in that sports-focused household, she developed an early affinity for tennis, despite her family's background in track and field and hockey.

As a junior, she quickly stood out. She won the European 16s championship in 2013 and captured the junior singles title at the 2014 French Open, a result she still counts among her best tennis memories. Turning professional in 2014, she climbed the rankings fast, reaching No. 32 in the world by age 18. In 2015, she made a memorable run to the fourth round at the US Open as a teenager, another highlight from her early years. [edit]

Kasatkina's first WTA Tour singles title came at the 2017 Charleston Open. The following year, she made a significant breakthrough at Indian Wells, where she narrowly lost to Naomi Osaka in a match that signaled a new generation of women's tennis. That same year, she reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, her best result at the All England Club, and won two of the biggest titles of her career on home soil: the Kremlin Cup in Moscow and the St. Petersburg Trophy.

After a dip in form in 2019, she rebounded in 2021 with two titles, re-entering the top 30. In 2022, she added two more titles and reached a career-high ranking of world No. 8 in October. That year also brought her best Grand Slam result, a semifinal run at the French Open. In team competition, she led Russia to victory at the 2020–21 Billie Jean King Cup, winning all her matches and helping secure the country's first title since 2008.

In 2025, Kasatkina switched her nationality to Australia, becoming the Australian No. 1. As of 2026, she continues to compete on the WTA tour, with recent appearances at the Washington Open and the Mubadala DC Open. In July 2026, she played qualifying at the Mubadala DC Open, defeating Mariam Bolkvadze in three sets, and later lost to Anna Kalinskaya in the first round of the Washington Open. [edit]

On the court, Kasatkina is admired for her tactical intelligence and speed rather than raw power. Off the court, she comes across as warm and engaging, especially through her YouTube vlog with her wife. Her coming out in 2022 made her an important LGBTQ+ role model, particularly given her Russian background. Fans appreciate her authenticity and her willingness to speak out on political issues, even at personal cost. [edit]

Daria Kasatkina's fanbase is a decentralized, organic community that rallies around her authenticity rather than organized clubs or formal monikers. While no specific collective name exists for her supporters, the dolphin emoji in her Instagram handle has become an informal symbol of her loyal following. These fans engage deeply through her digital channels, where she shares candid updates about life on tour and her marriage to Natalia Zabiiako. Their support is evident in the high view counts for match highlights and the widespread media coverage of her personal milestones, from her coming out to her 2026 wedding in Greece. The audience celebrates her resilience, particularly after dramatic setbacks like her loss at the 2026 Cincinnati Open, viewing her as a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ visibility in tennis. This connection fosters a sense of shared identity without the rigid structures seen in other sports cultures. Her influence extends beyond the court, with fans appreciating her willingness to speak on political issues despite the risks. As she continues to compete at the highest level, her reputation grows not just as an athlete but as a cultural icon who bridges worlds. According to the iFANN Global Fame Rankings, Daria Kasatkina is currently the 49th most famous person in Tennis, a position she has held steady through consistent performance and public engagement.[edit]

Kasatkina's online persona is instantly recognizable by the dolphin emoji adorning her Instagram handle. She and her wife, figure skater Natalia Zabiiako, co-host the popular YouTube vlog What The Vlog, offering fans an unfiltered look at their lives on the road. A dedicated fan even penned a novel inspired by the couple's love story, highlighting the deep emotional connection they share with their audience. Known for her creative shot-making and sharp tactical mind, she has earned a reputation as one of the smartest players on tour. Her legacy includes reaching the semifinals of the 2015 US Open, a run that established her as a top-tier competitor early in her career. More recently, her marriage to Zabiiako in Greece became a defining moment for LGBTQ+ representation in professional sports. Fans still retell the dramatic story of her 2026 Cincinnati Open match against Zeynep Sonmez, where she lost after holding a match point, a heartbreak that underscored her resilience and kept the conversation alive across social media platforms.[edit]

Daria Kasatkina's parents were both nationally ranked athletes: her father in athletics and her mother in ice hockey. Her older brother Alexander introduced her to tennis when she was six. In July 2026, she married Natalia Zabiiako, an Olympic figure skater, in a ceremony in Greece. The couple resides together, and Zabiiako manages Kasatkina's business inquiries. They have no children. [edit]

Kasatkina is married to Natalia Zabiiako, an Olympic figure skater who won silver in pairs at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Her older brother Alexander first got her into tennis. On the tour, she has been closely linked with Naomi Osaka, with their 2018 Indian Wells match seen as a passing of the torch. She also teamed with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Liudmila Samsonova, Veronika Kudermetova, and Ekaterina Alexandrova to win the Billie Jean King Cup for Russia. [edit]

Kasatkina's only publicly confirmed long-term relationship is with Natalia Zabiiako, an Olympic figure skater who won silver in pairs at the 2018 Winter Olympics. They met and fell in love during the 2021 Kremlin Cup in Moscow. Their relationship was publicly confirmed in July 2022 when Kasatkina came out as lesbian in an emotional video interview, a brave move given Russia's restrictive LGBTQ laws.

The couple married in Greece in July 2026, immediately following Kasatkina's Wimbledon exit. The ceremony took place in front of the ocean and fellow tennis stars. Kasatkina described the wedding as the best moment of her life so far. They reside together and collaborate professionally, with Zabiiako managing Kasatkina's business inquiries. [edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Daria Kasatkina's net worth in 2026 stands at $12 Million. The majority of this wealth stems from her career prize money, which has accumulated to roughly $10–12 million through 2026. This financial growth reflects her consistent presence in the top-50 rankings since 2017 and her eight WTA singles titles. Beyond tournament earnings, she secures income through endorsement deals with major tennis brands, though specific contract values remain private. Her partnership with Zabiiako on the YouTube channel What The Vlog provides additional revenue streams via ad sales and sponsorships. The couple also manages collaborative business ventures, with Zabiiako overseeing many of Kasatkina's inquiries. As her ranking and prize money have climbed over the years, her overall net worth has grown steadily.[edit]

Kasatkina's biggest team achievement came in 2021 when she led Russia to the Billie Jean King Cup title, winning all her matches. Individually, she won the junior French Open in 2014 and has claimed eight WTA singles titles. She reached a career-high ranking of No. 8 in 2022, though she hasn't yet won a senior Grand Slam. [edit]