Daria Kasatkina, the sixth-seeded player, emerged victorious in her match, securing a spot in the semifinals of the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai. However, what should have been a moment of celebration took a troubling turn as she faced an onslaught of online abuse. Kasatkina, who had earlier defeated Magda Linette with a score of 6-3, 6-4, took to social media to express her dismay over the disturbing messages she received.
In her post, the Russian athlete highlighted the distressing situation. “I won btw. This sh*t is completely out of control.” Kasatkina exposed the abusive messages full of hatred that she received despite winning a high percentage of her matches and having a good year on the WTA tour.
Some of the hate messages that she received were, “You’re a fu*king clown useless b*tch” and “I lost my bet because of your stupidity, you play like stupid and poor monkey,” from a wager.
I won btw. This shit is completely out of control pic.twitter.com/QEvJRfzoFV
— Daria Kasatkina (@DKasatkina) October 26, 2023
Kasatkina’s experience is not unique, as an increasing number of tennis players, including younger athletes like Linda Noskova, have spoken out about the hate they encounter on social media. Bettors who blame the players for their losses often fuel these messages.
It’s a concerning trend in the world of sports, where online abuse can overshadow the achievements of talented athletes. Kasatkina’s decision to shed light on this issue is an important step in addressing the problem and promoting a more respectful online environment for sports professionals.
Daria Kasatkina with her girlfriend makes special request to Zhuhai crowd
After her thrilling three-set victory over the top seed Barbora Krejcikova at the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai, world No. 17, Daria Kasatkina had a special surprise for her fans. She introduced her must-see vlog, “Kasatkina & Zabiiako,” which offers behind-the-scenes insights into the tennis tour.
What made this even more exciting was that the vlog is now available on Bilibili, the Chinese equivalent of YouTube, making it accessible to her Asian fans without the need for a VPN. During her on-court interview, she expressed her gratitude to the crowd and said, “And also, if you want, our vlogs are now on Bilibili, so subscribe! Now, our Asian fans can see it without a VPN!”
Daria Kasatkina promotes her & her girlfriends YouTube channel after her win in Zhuhai:
“Also, if you want, our vlogs are now on Bilibili. So subscribe. Now our Asian fans can see without VPN” 😂
She also plugged her vlog in at the US Open.
Gotta love Dasha. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/h05uku76tP
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 25, 2023
Daria Kasatkina and her girlfriend, Natalia Zabiiako, have been in a loving relationship since 2021. They recently celebrated their second anniversary, sharing endearing moments from their journey. Their vlog has become a favorite among tennis enthusiasts seeking an unfiltered view of the tour.
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While their vlog has received much love, some fans have expressed concerns about China not being welcoming to the LGBTQ community. One fan said, “I don’t think the Chinese are too keen on LGBTQ.”
I don’t think the Chinese are too keen on LGBTQ.
— Meine Weltanschauung (@f97642606) October 25, 2023
Nonetheless, Kasatkina’s openness and efforts to share her life with fans worldwide have garnered support and admiration. During the US Open, she notably promoted her and Zabiiako channel in a pre-match interview before her fourth-round match.
