Russian-born Daria Kasatkina said she was emotional and excited to begin a fresh chapter in her career under the Australian flag at the Charleston Open after being granted permanent residency last week. The 27-year-old has been playing on the tour as a neutral athlete after Russian and Belarusian players were banned from competing under their own flags due to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. "Today, the rankings updated, and it's my first official day as an Australian player," said Kasatkina, who dipped into Australian colloquialism and referred to reporters in Charleston as "mates". "Honestly, it feels different, I'm not going to lie. It's emotional for me. I have to get used to it. But I'm really happy to start this new chapter of my life representing Australia on the big stage." Kasatkina, who was born in the western Russian city of Tolyatti, has not returned to the country in more than two years after coming out as gay and being one of the few players to have publicly spoken out against the war. Russia has designated the LGBTQIA+ movement as extremist and those supporting it as terrorists, paving the way for serious criminal cases against queer people and their advocates. World number 12 Kasatkina, who lives in Dubai and trains in Spain, now plans to make Melbourne her home. "With everything going on in my previous country, I didn't have much choice," Kasatkina said about her decision to switch her nationality. "For me, being openly gay, if I want to be myself, I have to make this step, and I did it." Kasatkina received a first-round bye and plays either Lauren Davis or Jamie Loeb in the Charleston second round when the 2017 champion will be introduced as representing Australia for the first time on court. "I have to get used to it a little bit, because for a couple of years I didn't hear anything," Kasatkina said. "But it's something nice to get used to." She follows the likes of Russian-born Daria Saville and Arina Rodionova, and Ajla Tomljanović (Croatia) in making eligibility switches. Currently splitting her time between Spain and Dubai, Kasatkina said she is already looking forward to playing at her home slam, where she reached the fourth round this year. "The first match is going to be special," Kasatkina said. "Coming to Australia every year, seeing how much support the players from Australia get there — I never experienced something like that in my life. "It's going to be emotional, for sure, but I think I'm going to enjoy it." She said she had been warmly welcomed by fellow Australian players with her long-time friend Saville (née Gavrilova), who competed for Russia until 2014, regularly reaching out. "She's non-stop … she keeps sending me some stuff like the apartments and the houses around her location," said Kasatkina, who is in a relationship with Olympic silver medal-winning Russian ice skater Natalia Zabiiako. Croatian-born Tomljanović, who switched allegiance to Australia just prior to Saville, said she was excited to have Kasatkina in the green and gold. "I'm thrilled — she's an amazing person, an amazing player and I just want her to be able to play for us in the [Billie Jean King] Cup and Olympics," Tomljanović said. "I think she fits everything Aussie, so I'm excited for her." Tomljanović beat Japan's Kyoka Okamura in the first round and next takes on American 16th seed Peyton Stearns. Reuters/AAP