Daria Kasatkina claims first straight-sets win in first match since Australia switch

"And please welcome from Australia, Daria Kasatkina!"

With those seven simple words from the MC introducing her on court at the Charleston Open, Australia's new overnight superstar tennis import Kasatkina admitted she was left feeling a bag of nerves about the advent of her new tennis adventure in the green and gold.

She need not have worried.

For, just over an hour later, following her consummate maiden triumph as an Australian player, "Dasha" was soaking up the cheers of the US crowd on the arena's famous green clay courts amid the strains of "I come from a land Down Under", while beaming a smile of relief mixed with genuine joy.

"A new stage for me. So, going on court today as an Aussie, this time was stressful, honestly," admitted the 27-year-old, after her 6-1, 6-1 demolition of American Lauren Davis demonstrated just what a class act Australia has been gifted in this outstanding world number 12.

"I just couldn't keep my smile from breaking through," she explained after hearing the announcer say '…from Australia'.

"So it's really special moment for me to win a first match as an Australian player. I'm just really happy, and couldn't believe one day something like that would happen to me."

Kasatkina's switch of allegiance from her native Russia to Australia has been the talk of world tennis.

Kasatkina, world number 12, switches allegiances to represent Australia Photo shows Tennis player Daria Kasatkina tosses a ball to serve at the Australian Open. Tennis star Daria Kasatkina will represent Australia in future tournaments after her application for permanent residency was accepted by the government.

But it's proved hugely stressful too for an athlete who, being openly gay and having been so outspoken against the invasion of Ukraine, felt she had no choice but to abandon Russia so "I could be myself".

Asked about what had made her feel so stressed, Kasatkina broke into a laugh post-match when she told Tennis Channel: "Guess, mate!

"This week was a bit stressful, with all the changes and all the feedback. When the tennis player steps on court, all the stress she's living through explodes. That's how it works. And I'm really happy how I handled that situation today, because it was not easy, honestly."

It didn't look that way, though.

For, against the 31-year-old world number 211, a player the world number 12 would have expected to dismantle comfortably, Kasatkina made it look simple, demonstrating why she's the best female player to represent Australia since Ash Barty called it a day.

She swept into a 5-0 lead for the loss of just nine points on her preferred clay surface, and despite an early second-set blip when she got broken after serving three-straight double faults — a weakness that's long bugged her game — she was in a different league to former Hobart winner Davis.

It was on this court in Charleston that Kasatkina had achieved the first of her eight tournament triumphs as a teenager back in 2017. "Oh my God, eight years ago…" she said, aghast.

But now she's feeling as if her tennis life is beginning all over again there — and her gratitude to Australia could not sound more genuine.

"Australia's a great place. It's a bit far [away], not gonna lie, but it's a great place, very welcoming place," she said after setting up a last-16 clash with either 17th seed Belinda Bencic or former Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin.

"The people there are just different there, so nice. Everyone is treated the same. I mean, it's just the harmony there. You feel like nobody's judging anybody, and you can be yourself."

AAP

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