Cheeky tennis player promotes her YouTube channel during match interview and people are applauding

Daria Kasatkina got cheekily candid during a pre-match interview before her fourth-round clash against Aryna Sabalenka at the 2023 US Open. The 26-year-old Russian sportswoman runs a YouTube channel with her girlfriend Natalia Zabiiako, a Russian-Estonian figure skater, called "Zabiiako & Kasatkina" where they share content around their tours and personal lifestyle.

During an interview when Kasatkina was asked how she prepares for a night match at the US Open, she simply replied,  "Well honestly, we spent the whole day yesterday thinking how to promote my YouTube channel and I think this is it. Guys, subscribe. Just search my surname on YouTube and you'll find it. And in case the match is not going to be interesting  you can always watch the YouTube." Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens reshared the cheeky video of Kasatkina’s hilarious interview on Twitter (now X) on September 6, with the tweet, "I respect it," and a laughing emoji. According to Express UK, the tennis star lost to Sabalenka in straight sets 1-6, 3-6 as the latter dominated the game with her powerful serve and aggressive baseline game. 

Netizens had a good laugh over the athlete's plugging of her YouTube Channel. @TanyaArmor tweeted, "I think I haven't seen a better pre-match interview." @IlekubaChinedu added, "Omg her YouTube is one of the best things to watch. It's very good when you're a pro athlete to document your life on the road. I wish others do it too. I'll subscribe and watch." @realhermoment pointed out, "Never a bad time to endorse yourself!"

Kasatkina confirmed her sexuality in 2022 and has been open about it ever since. She bravely shared her story in a lengthy YouTube interview with Russian vlogger Vitya Kravchenko on 19 July, reports Pink News. “Living in the closet is impossible,” Kasatkina told Kravchenko. “Not for the long run, no. It is too hard. It is pointless. You will be completely focused on that until you choose to come out. Of course, it is up to you to decide how to do it and how much you tell. Living in peace with yourself is the only thing that matters, and f**k everyone else.” She admitted that she would “never” hold her girlfriend Zabiiako’s hand in public especially due to the fact that LGBTQ+ Russians face fierce discrimination. “Judging by how things are going there, it will never be OK,” she said. “So many subjects are taboo in Russia, some of them more important than ours, it’s no surprise. This notion of someone wanting to be gay or becoming one is ridiculous. I think there is nothing easier in this world than being straight. Seriously, if there is a choice, no one would choose to be gay. Why make your life harder, especially in Russia? What’s the point? It is important to talk about these things. It is important for young people who have a hard time with society and need support."

The player expected to receive harsh criticism but she was also pleasantly surprised about how positive the reaction would be from her fellow players. “That was great because I didn’t face any negativity, especially from the people I know,” she told The Guardian. “This topic is very sensitive, so I was ready for some negative reaction, but there was nothing like that. I’m very thankful because that makes me feel so good. Some of the players were coming to me, sometimes they’re still coming to me, to say ‘yeah, it’s cool’ or ‘congrats’ to me. That’s nice.” In fact, she felt a huge weight lifting off her shoulders after she came out.  “I felt less pressure. I put this pressure out of my shoulders because when you have to think about tennis but also to think about some deep things inside your head, it’s just not good."