Russian-born world quantity 12 Daria Kasatkina received her first match representing Australia within the second spherical of the Charleston Open on Wednesday.
Fifth seed Kasatkina, who received her first tour-level title on the WTA 500 occasion in 2017, wanted simply 61 minutes to dispatch house hopeful Lauren Davis 6-1, 6-1 and e-book a 3rd spherical match towards one other American, Sofia Kenin.
The 27-year-old introduced final Friday that her utility for everlasting residency had been accepted by the Australian authorities.
Kasatkina had beforehand been enjoying on the tour as a impartial athlete after Russian and Belarusian gamers had been banned from competing beneath their very own flags following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Prime seed Jessica Pegula additionally superior into the third spherical on Wednesday, holding off a second set comeback try from Belarus’ Iryna Shymanovich.
The 2024 U.S. Open finalist bageled Shymanovich within the first set earlier than seeing her serve damaged twice within the second.
Pegula, held agency, nonetheless to prevail 6-0, 6-3 and arrange a 3rd spherical tie towards Australia’s Alija Tomljanovic.
Elsewhere, fourth seed Emma Navarro defeated her American compatriot Hailey Baptiste 6-4, 6-3.