Russian tennis player Daria Kasatkina, world No. 11, expressed her concern about the unstable political situation in Russia on Monday after her victory in the first round of the WTA Eastbourne tournament over Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina.
The latter did not shake hands with Kasatkina after losing in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, just as Elina Svitolina had refused to do at Roland-Garros. But Kasatkina, who has repeatedly taken a stand against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, had already expressed his understanding for this attitude.
Asked after the match about the abortive rebellion of the Wagner group, Kasatkina did not, as often, mince words. “What I feel is shitty, honestly. I’m not going to hide it.” “My family, my parents are still in Russia. As you can see, in the last few days it has been a big mess there too,” she said, stressing once again that the Ukrainians are “in a much worse situation.”