🔗 Share this article

Australia's leading WTA competitor has chosen to take a break until the end of the current year, stating she is at her “emotional and mental threshold.”

Factors Leading to the Decision

Daria Kasatkina, who this year altered her nationality from Russia to Australia, attributed the move for contributing to significant “mental and emotional strain.”

Further contributors involved the ongoing difficulty of being away from her family and the grueling competition calendar.

“I've been far from fine for a extended duration and, to be frank, my match outcomes and showings show it,” she shared on social media.

She stated, “Honestly, I've reached my limit and am unable to proceed. I must take a hiatus. A break from the monotonous daily grind of the tennis circuit, the travel, the outcomes, the expectations, the regular competitors (sorry, girls), all aspects of this existence.”

Private Difficulties and Return Plans

“There's only so much I can deal with and handle as a female athlete, all whilst competing with the best female athletes in the world.”

“If people consider this a flaw, then I accept it, it's true. That said, I am confident in my resilience and will improve by stepping back, resting, regrouping and reenergising. It's time I paid attention to my instincts for a shift, my brain, my emotions and my health.”

She opted to alter allegiance after leaving her home country due to safety concerns, having openly opposed the country's policies affecting the queer community and the conflict in Ukraine. Originally based in the UAE, she settled in Australia and secured long-term status in early this year.

She later got engaged to longtime girlfriend Natalia Zabiiako, who won a silver medal for her former team at the PyeongChang Games after earlier competing for her home country of Estonia.

She also revealed she has not seen her dad, who still lives in her homeland, for an extended period.

Professional Background

A French Open semi-finalist in 2022, the player had finished the previous four seasons ranked in the top ten but is currently ranked 19th after a challenging season where she won 19 and lost 21.

She is likely to exit the elite rankings by the time the Australian Open arrives.

The 28-year-old announced she aims to resume in the following season, “recharged and motivated,” with the build-up to her local Grand Slam probably acting as a return target.

Wider Context

The nation's current No. 2 is Maya Joint, ranked 35th globally.

She is the third elite athlete to end their season early, following Paula Badosa and Elina Svitolina, amid a recent trend of players retiring mid-match.

The WTA requires top competitors to appear at a required schedule, encompassing the Grand Slam events, 10 WTA 1,000 events, and lower-tier matches.

But elite competitor Iga Swiatek remarked in the past, “It's just impossible to accommodate everything the itinerary. Perhaps I will have to pick some competitions and skip them, despite the fact that they are mandatory.

“We must think carefully about it - possibly disregarding about the rules and just think what's beneficial for us.”