Tennis player Kasatkina announces her non-tranditional sexual orientation

World No. 12 Daria Kasatkina said it was important for influential sports stars to lead the way for others. Last month, Russian soccer player Nadezhda Karpova also came out as a lesbian.

Russian tennis star Daria Kasatkina has come out as a lesbian in a YouTube video, during which she also criticized her country's attitude towards homosexuality, DW reports.

"Living in the closet, as they say, is pointless," Kasatkina said in an interview with vlogger Vitya Kravchenko. "There is no point, it would always be going round in your head until you say something. Obviously, each person decides how to open up and how much,'' Kasatkina said.

The 25-year-old tennis player lamented the fact there are so many "taboo topics" in Russia.

Hours after the video was published, Kasatkina shared a photo on Instagram of herself hugging another woman with a purple heart emoji. On Twitter, she posted a photo of herself and the same woman, saying: "My cutie pie."

Kasatkina's announcement came after Russian lawmakers on Monday proposed banning any discussion of "non-traditional" sexual relationships in the public sphere.

Russia's so-called "gay propaganda" law from 2013 has been used to stop pride marches and detain gay rights activists.

Kasatkina praised Nadezhda Karpova for paving the way, after the soccer player became the first Russian sportswoman to come out in June.

"My respect. I was happy for her, but also other people, especially girls needed to know that," Kasatkina said.