Daria Kasatkina, one of the most courageous figures in modern tennis, has officially married her long-time partner, Olympic figure skater Natalia Zabiiako. The couple tied the knot on Thursday, July 16, 2026, embarking on a beautiful journey in their personal lives and making them the first high-profile, openly LGBTQ+ married couple active at the top level of international tennis.
Sharing the beautiful news with her followers on Instagram, Kasatkina posted pictures from their special day with a heartwarming caption:
“We just had the best day ever. We celebrated love, freedom and acceptance. No words for now, only appreciation.”
Daria Kasatkina and Russian LGBTQ+ laws
Kasatkina, who is currently ranked 69, first revealed about her gender in 2022 when she bravely came out as gay. At the time, she was still representing Russia, a nation with highly restrictive, hostile anti-LGBTQ+ laws and intense state censorship.
By speaking her truth, Kasatkina openly acknowledged that she was putting both her professional career and her personal safety at serious risk. This historic move made her one of the very few active Eastern European athletes to take such a public and uncompromising stand for LGBTQ+ rights.
The journey to freedom and a new flag
Because of her sexuality and her vocal stance against the war in Ukraine, staying in her home country became incredibly dangerous. Kasatkina made the painful but necessary decision to leave Russia behind in search of a safer life abroad where she could live without fear.
Her journey towards true freedom found a new home in early 2025, when she officially secured permanent residency in Australia. The life-changing move allowed her to live openly and compete freely on the WTA Tour under the Australian flag.
Who is Daria Kasatkina’s partner Natalia Zabiiako?
Natalia Zabiiako is an extraordinarily accomplished elite athlete in her own right. She won an Olympic silver medal in pairs figure skating at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games.
Just like Kasatkina, Zabiiako showed bravery by coming out publicly in 2022 to stand proudly alongside her partner.
Daria Kasatkina is yet to win a title in her career. Her best career Grand Slam finish in singles is reaching the semifinals at the 2022 French Open. Her highest career singles ranking is World No. 8, achieved in October 2022.
