Russia's top female tennis player comes out as gay, says her country — which has strict anti-LGBT laws — makes 'life harder'

• Russia's top female tennis player said she is gay and it was impossible to keep "living in the closet."
• She did the interview in Spain, and said she is in a relationship with a woman.

Russia's top-ranked female tennis player revealed that she is gay and criticized her country's stance on LGBT rights.

Daria Kasatkina said in an interview with the Russian blogger Vitya Kravchenko, which was released on Monday, that she is in a relationship with a woman, according to a translation by Reuters.

She said in the interview that she finds "living in the closet" to be impossible, adding: "Living in peace with yourself is the only thing that matters, fuck everyone else," Reuters reported.

The interview took place in Spain, where she lives, the Associated Press reported.

She said that being gay is not a choice people make, particularly in Russia, Eurosport reported.

"So many subjects are taboo in Russia. This notion of someone wanting to be gay or becoming [gay] is ridiculous. I think there is nothing easier in this world than being straight.

"Seriously, if there is a choice, no one would choose being gay. Why make your life harder, especially in Russia? What's the point?"

She also said she fears she could "never" be able to hold her girlfriend's hand in Russia, Eurosport reported.

Russia has severe anti-LGBT laws, including one that bans material perceived as LGBT "propaganda," like the depiction of LGBT people in the media. Same-sex marriage is also illegal in Russia.

After the interview was posted on YouTube, Kasatkina shared photos of herself with Russian-Estonian Olympic figure skater Natalia Zabiiako on Instagram and Twitter.

She captioned the photos with a heart emoji and by writing "My cutie pie," but did not say whether Zabiiako is her girlfriend.

Kasatkina said she was inspired to come out after the Russian soccer player Nadya Karpova also did so, Reuters reported.

Kasatkina is currently ranked 12th in the world.

She also said that the thing she wants most in life is "for the war to end."

People in Russia have been detained for speaking out against the country's invasion of Ukraine.

In the interview, she cried when asked if she was afraid she would not be able to return to Russia after what she said, the AP reported.