In the blink of an eye, the second WTA 500 event of the season is around the corner and surprisingly, it has come bearing some disastrous news. Daria Kasatkina was listed as a Spaniard during the 2025 Abu Dhabi Open draw ceremony. The nationality blunder sparked controversy and moments later, her team slammed the WTA. They highlighted the implications that could follow with their erroneous listing.

The Russian star is fresh off her fourth-round finish at the Australian Open. She jetted to the Middle East for the WTA 500 event featuring electrifying players like defending champion Elena Rybakina, Tunisian Ons Jabeur, Jelena Ostapenko, and more. However, during the unveiling of the draw, the tournament’s authorities listed Russian Kasatkina as a Spaniard. The flag mix-up immediately sparked online discussion from fans who thought she switched nationality as the Russian player resides in Barcelona.

Although the Abu Dhabi Open issued an apology on social media and clarified the mix-up, “We sincerely apologize for the error made by one of our suppliers during the live draw, whereby an incorrect nationality was shown alongside the name of Daria Kasaktina. This was entirely an administrative mistake and has now been corrected,” Kasatkina’s management blasted the WTA saying that their actions could amount to “strong implications” for her.

Her team told BBC Sport: “It is incorrect and we can categorically deny she is switching to Spain. This carries some strong implications for Daria if the Russian authorities feel she is trying to switch – which she is not.” Things have been “difficult” for Kasatkina ever since she came out as a bisexual in 2022 and later opposed her nation’s invasion of Ukraine.

Seeing as Russia is averse to gay rights as their Supreme Court ruled the ‘LGBTQIA+ movement’ as an “extremist organisation” in 2023, her management believes that the flag mix-up could put her in further jeopardy. However, coming out of the closet hasn’t been a complete nightmare for the Russian player.

Daria Kasatkina expressed feeling liberated after disclosing her sexuality

Russian star Daria Kasatkina opened up about feeling liberated with her sexual orientation unveiling during an interview with CBS in May last year. She also discussed that coming out as bisexual helped her feel better as opposed to a restricted life where she had to keep her identity a secret. For those unaware, the 27-year-old has been romantically involved with Russian-Estonian figure skater Natalia Zabiiako for over two years now.

She said, “The reaction was loud! But I never regret about it, because I realize that it was keeping me so tight. Like, I couldn’t be exact, like, 100% myself in life, and then on the tennis court as well, because all these things are connected. After this, I just start to feel so much better.”

Kasatkina’s strong voice against her nation’s war on Ukraine isn’t new to fans either and her comments on the tragic situation were also aired during the conversation. “Honestly, I don’t see the end right now. It seems like it’s stuck in one spot and doesn’t go anywhere. All I want is to finish as soon as possible. Like, hell situation. And it’s been too long.”

As for her Abu Dhabi Open campaign, the Russian player will look to exact revenge on defending champion Rybakina for her defeat in the event’s summit clash last year. She will lock horns with American Ashlyn Krueger in the Round of 16 on Wednesday, February 5.