Australian women’s tennis No.1 Daria Kasatkina ‘at breaking point’, takes pause

Australia’s women’s tennis No.1 has put her career on hold for the rest of the year, stating “mentally and emotionally I am at breaking point”.

Daria Kasatkina — who switched nationality from Russia to Australia earlier this year, immediately becoming national No.1 — blamed the “emotional and mental stress” related to that change, the strain of not seeing her family and the relentless schedule of the tennis circuit.

“I’ve been far from fine for a long time and, truth be told, my results and performances show that,” she wrote on social media.

“Truth is, I’ve hit a wall and can’t continue. I need a break. A break from the monotonous daily grind of life on the tour, the suitcases, the results, the pressure, the same faces (sorry, girls), everything that comes with this life.

“There’s only so much I can deal with and take as an individual woman, all whilst competing with the best female athletes in the world.”

“If this makes me weak, then so be it, I’m weak. However, I know I am strong and will get stronger by being away, recharging, regrouping and reenergising. It’s time I listened to myself for a change, my mind, my heart and my body.”

Kasatkina opted to switch nationality after leaving Russia fearing for her safety having criticised their anti-LGBTQ+ laws and the war on Ukraine. Initially living in Dubai she moved to Melbourne and became a permanent Australian resident in March.

She subsequently became engaged to longtime girlfriend Natalia Zabiiako, a former Olympic figure skater, who won a silver medal for Russia at the 2018 Winter Olympics having earlier competed for her native Estonia.

Kasatkina said she had not been able to see her father who remains in Russia, for four years.

A French Open semi-finalist in 2022, Kasatkina has finished the last four calendar years ranked in the top 10 but is currently 19th after a modest season in which she won 19 and lost 21 matches. She will almost certainly be out of the top 20 by the time the Australian Open comes around.

The 28-year-old said she will be back in 2026, “energised and ready to rock”, and the build-up to her home grand slam is presumably a return target.

Australia’s current No.2 is Maya Joint, ranked 35th globally.

Kasatkina is the third leading female player to end their season early following Paula Badosa and Elina Svitolina while there has also been a spate of players retiring mid-match recently.

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has made it mandatory for leading players to participate in a minimum 20 events including the four grand slams, 10 WTA 1000 events and six 500-level tournaments.

But world No.2 Iga Swiatek said last month, “It’s just impossible to squeeze it in the schedule. Maybe I will have to choose some tournaments and skip them, even though they are mandatory.

“We have to be smart about it — not really unfortunately care about the rules and just think what’s healthy for us.”