Lesbian player who criticized Saudi Arabia changed her speech: ‘They guaranteed me I’d be fine’

​Daria Kasatkina, a player who revealed in 2022 that she is a lesbian, says she has been given “guarantees” about her safety should she compete at the Tournament of Champions in Saudi Arabia. The Russian woman makes this announcement almost a year after she stated that “there are many problems related to this country”.

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Daria Kasatkina “received guarantees” regarding the safety of gay athletes at the Tournament of Champions in Saudi Arabia

During Wimbledon 2023, Kasatkina (one of the few players who declared her homosexuality in the WTA circuit) said that, unlike ATP players, she would not feel safe at a tournament organized in Saudi Arabia.

“There are many problems concerning this country. It’s easier for men, because they feel quite comfortable there. We don’t feel the same way. Nick Kyrgios said he would be very happy to go there for a big cheque. For me, money is not the number 1 priority” – Daria Kasatkina.

At the beginning of April, the WTA revealed that Riyadh will host the 2024, 2025 and 2026 editions of the WTA Finals, a competition that brings together the best eight players of the season.

Ranked 10th in the WTA Race Live rankings, Daria (26) has now spoken about the benefits of Riyadh (Saudi Arabia’s capital) hosting the Tournament of Champions.

“If I qualify, it means I’m in the top eight in the world, that would be a great thing for me. We see that the Saudis are now very involved in this sport, they want to develop it. And as long as it gives people there, kids and young women, the opportunity to actually see this sport – so they can watch it, they can play it, they can participate in it – I think it’s great” – Daria Kasatkinaquoted by the BBC.

Daria Kasatkina is qualified for the round of 16 at the “WTA 1000” tournament in Madrid, the stage of the competition where she will meet Yulia Putintseva (50 WTA).

In December 2023, Human Rights Watch said Saudi courts had convicted people for promoting homosexuality online and added that “LGBT people in Saudi Arabia must practice extreme self-censorship to survive in everyday life.”

The Saudi kingdom has invested huge sums of money in various sports, including football, Formula 1, boxing and golf, with critics accusing the country of using its Public Investment Fund to wash its image through sports.

According to Reuters, Saudi Arabia denies the allegations of human rights violations and says it protects its national security through its laws.