Russian tennis star Daria Kasatkina got engaged to her longtime girlfriend, Olympic figure skater Natalia Zabiiako, on her birthday in May, but there was a twist. She proposed with a ring that wasn’t even hers to begin with.
The ring was a gift from fellow tennis player Daria Saville, who only found out afterward that Kasatkina had used it to pop the big question. In a lighthearted exchange, Zabiiako couldn’t help but poke fun at the situation, revealing that the ring was her favorite, until Kasatkina snatched it back.
Daria Kasatkina and Fiancée Natalia Zabiiako Have Been Together Since 2022
The couple, who have been together publicly since 2022, announced their engagement in early June 2025, just in time for Pride Month. However, the actual proposal took place a few weeks earlier on Kasatkina’s 28th birthday, May 7, while she was in Rome for the Italian Open. Zabiiako, an Olympic silver medalist, shared a photo of her engagement ring on Instagram, confirming the milestone with Kasatkina.
View this post on Instagram
In a video shared by the WTA, Kasatkina described the spontaneous moment during a birthday dinner in Rome that led to the proposal. She admitted the idea came out of nowhere, “just sitting, feeling good,” she said, when she suddenly knew it was the right moment. With no grand speech or setup, she simply asked Zabiiako, “Are you going to marry me?”
Initially, everyone at the table thought she was joking, including Zabiiako, who needed multiple confirmations before realizing it was the real deal. The metal ring Kasatkina used for the proposal had been a birthday gift from Saville. After wrapping up her Italian Open run, the couple went out to pick a diamond ring together.
Birthday candles, a ring, & one unforgettable ‘YES’ 🥹 pic.twitter.com/1oAwQ2Rbst
— wta (@WTA) June 12, 2025
Saville later joked about the surprise twist, writing on Instagram: “Bought a ring for my friend and she proposed with it.”
View this post on Instagram
Zabiiako joined in on the fun shortly after. Sharing Saville’s post on her Instagram Stories, she added: “It was my favorite ring for a couple of days… And then she took it back.”
Kasatkina Opens Up About Wedding Plans With Fiancée Zabiiako
In the WTA video mentioned earlier, Kasatkina shared that she and Zabiiako have already begun planning their wedding and offered a glimpse into what they envision for the big day.
“We’re planning a wedding. It’s pretty serious. There’s no way back,” Kasatkina said. “Next to the sea, with the closest people. I think it’s going to be, not a big wedding, quite small. But yeah, we’re for sure going to have a great time with closest people, friends, and family.”
“I’m really waiting for this moment because it’s going to be a very nice party.”
The engagement comes during a key moment in Kasatkina’s life, as she recently switched her nationality from Russia to Australia in March 2025 after gaining permanent residency. She began her grass-court season at the Queen’s Club Championships but lost to Wild Card Sonya Kartal in the first round. Next up, she’s set to compete at the Berlin Open.
