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

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

Russian human rights activists and fellow athletes have described the decision to come out as gay by the nation'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."