Daria Kasatkina Engages Natalia Zabiiako with Surprise Twist

Rome, Italy — Russian tennis player Daria Kasatkina proposed to her longtime girlfriend, Olympic figure skater Natalia Zabiiako, on her birthday, May 7, 2025. The proposal was unexpected, using a ring that originally belonged to fellow tennis player Daria Saville, who gifted it to Kasatkina.

The couple revealed their engagement in early June 2025, coinciding with Pride Month. Kasatkina and Zabiiako have been a public couple since 2022. Zabiiako shared a photo of her engagement ring on Instagram, celebrating their relationship milestone.

Kasatkina recounted the moment she proposed during a birthday dinner in Rome while attending the Italian Open. “Just sitting, feeling good,” she said. Without any elaborate setup, she asked Zabiiako, “Are you going to marry me?” Initially, everyone at the table thought it was a joke, including Zabiiako.

After confirming her seriousness, Kasatkina received a heartfelt ‘yes’ from Zabiiako, prompting tears of joy from their friends at the dinner. Following the proposal, Zabiiako checked multiple times if Kasatkina was certain about the commitment. After finishing at the Italian Open, the couple went ring shopping together.

“We’re planning a wedding. It’s pretty serious. There’s no way back,” Kasatkina said, indicating excitement for their future together. They envision a small wedding by the sea with family and friends.

This engagement comes at a pivotal time for Kasatkina, who switched her nationality from Russia to Australia in March 2025, following her decision to embrace her sexuality openly. “For me, being openly gay, if I want to be myself, I have to take this step, and I did it,” she stated.