‘Monumental’: Russian tennis player Daria Kasatkina praised for coming out as gay

Activists and athletes say it is an important and symbolic moment for rights of LGBTQ+ people in Russia

MONUMENTAL: Russia's Daria Kasatkina plays a shot during a semifinal match at the French Open tennis tournament in Roland Garros stadium. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

Russian human rights activists and fellow athletes have described the decision to come out as gay by the country’s highest-ranked female tennis player, Daria Kasatkina, as a monumental and symbolic moment for the rights of LGBTQ+ people in the country.

“When I heard the news about Kasatkina, I couldn’t believe it, I was so proud,” said Nadya Karpova, a footballer, who became the first openly gay Russian national team athlete when she came out last month. “I was ecstatic, jumping around like crazy in my flat.” Kasatkina said in an interview on Monday with the Russian blogger Vitya Kravchenko that Karpova had served as an inspiration in her decision to come out.