Russian-born World No. 12 Dahlia Kasatokina won her first match representing Australia in the second round of the Charleston Open on Wednesday.
The fifth seed Kasatkina, who won his first tour-level title at the 2017 WTA 500 event, sent the hopeful Lauren Davis 6-1, 6-1 home and took just 61 minutes to book a third round match against another American Sofia Kenin.
The 27-year-old announced last Friday that her application for permanent residence had been accepted by the Australian government.
Kasatkina had previously played on the tour as a neutral athlete after the 2022 Ukrainian invasion of Moscow in banned Russian and Belarusian players from competing under their own flag.
Top seed Jessica Pegra also advanced to the third round on Wednesday, thwarting a second comeback attempt from Belarus’ Irina Shamanovich.
In the US in 2024, we saw her break twice, the second time, after the finalists opened up the Benalist in the first set.
However, he won 6-0, 6-3 and set up a tie for the third round with Australia’s Aliya Tomjanovic.
Elsewhere, the fourth species, Emma Navarro, defeated American compatriot Hailey Baptist 6-4, 6-3.