Russian tennis star appears to be hitting back at state 'crime' charge after coming out as gay

Daria Kasatkina appeared to hit back at claims she committed a 'crime against the state' for her comments in a YouTube video in which she came out as gay and admitted that potential young Russian tennis players should change of citizenship. The Russian No. 1 was criticized by two State Duma deputies who challenged her explaining the difficulties of trying to play professionally while still in Russia.

Kasatkina made waves in the tennis community when Russian blogger Vitya Kravchenko shared a lengthy YouTube video after hanging out with WTA world No. 12 and ATP world No. 8 Andrey Rublev. The 25-year-old has since been praised for her courage to come out as gay and confirm she has a girlfriend in the video, as well as using her platform to condemn war, denounce the taboo of homosexuality in Russia and encourage Russian children to change nationality if they want to play tennis.

"The friends have their own tennis club, but they can't buy tennis balls, sneakers, rackets, bags, nothing," she said of the difficulty of getting in in professional tennis while still in Russia. “I think a lot of talented kids would get a new citizenship with the help of their parents. As for the kids, if you have such a privilege, then go for it.”

State Duma deputy Roman Teryushkov took to Russian social media site Telegram to write: "Having publicly admitted her non-traditional sexual orientation, Russia's top racket, Daria Kasatkina, has urged young athletes to change their citizenship." And the world number 12 has now appeared to take aim at the criminal complaint in a message with his girlfriend, figure skater Natalia Zabiiako.

JUST IN: Berrettini on 'absurd' Covid chaos that forced him out of Wimbledon

The Russian-Estonian who now represents Canada shared a photo of herself and Kasatkina on her Twitter account, writing, "@DKasatkina mama, I'm a criminal." The former world number 10 retweeted the photo in what appeared to be a subtle dig at the former minister for physical culture and sport's comment.

Kasatkina also came under fire from another state Duma deputy, Vitaly Milonov, a Russian politician who has become a hate figure within the country's LGBTQ+ community. Speaking about his decision to come out as gay, he told MetaRatings: "Kasatkina succumbed to a fad, or maybe she overheated in the sun.

NOT TO MISS

McEnroe explains why Kyrgios has never reached the level of NadalNadal trains for the first time since leaving Wimbledon injuredNovak Djokovic sent a direct message about the vaccine by the head of the Canadian Open< /p> READ MORE