Togliatti-born Daria Kasatkina has always represented Russia on the WTA Tour and is currently the highest-ranked player from her country. However, a recent draw ceremony at the Abu Dhabi Open caused widespread confusion when the Spanish flag was mistakenly displayed next to her name, leading many to believe she had switched her citizenship.
The “news” of Kasatkina changing her citizenship to Spain came as a shock, but it was a plausible theory given her well-known ties to the country. The world No. 11 previously lived and trained in Barcelona, working with Spanish coaches and taking advantage of the country’s top-tier tennis facilities and favorable climate.