Organisers Regret ‘Potentially Damaging’ Mistake That Left Russian Star Vulnerable

The organisers of a WTA Tour draw have had to retract and apologise for a “potentially harmful” blunder that put a Russian star at risk of claims regarding her loyalty.

During the draw ceremony for the Abu Dhabi Open, Daria Kasatkina, who is currently ranked No. 11 in the world, had her name displayed alongside a Spanish abbreviation.

As a Russian athlete, she competes under a neutral flag, a status that all Russian and Belarusian players have had since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The appearance of “ESP,” widely recognised as representing Spain, next to her name led to speculation that Kasatkina had defected to compete for the Western European nation.

Her team quickly moved to clarify the situation, emphasising the “potentially very damaging” implications of the error.

“This is incorrect, and we can categorically deny that she is switching to Spain,” they informed BBC Sport.

“This poses significant consequences for Daria if the Russian authorities interpret this as an attempt to switch allegiance — which she is not doing.”

The draw organisers expressed their regret over the mishap.

“This was purely an administrative error, and it has now been rectified,” they stated.

Kasatkina is among the few Russian athletes who have openly condemned the invasion of Ukraine.

Many athletes choose to remain silent on the matter due to the potential consequences they may face in their home country.

Moreover, Kasatkina is one of the few openly gay players on the WTA tour.

In 2023, Russia’s Supreme Court classified the “international LGBT movement” as an “extremist organisation.”

During a video interview in 2022, Kasatkina publicly came out as gay while simultaneously urging Russia to put an end to its war in Ukraine.

Last year, she told ESPN in a separate interview that she anticipated “consequences” for her decisions.

One Russian politician even attempted to label Kasatkina as a foreign agent officially.

Reports suggest that Kasatkina has not returned to Russia for over two and a half years and currently splits her time between Dubai and Spain.