🔗 Share this article

The nation's leading female tennis athlete has decided to step away throughout the rest of the current year, explaining she is at her “mental and emotional limit.”

Factors Leading to the Decision

Daria Kasatkina, who earlier switched her allegiance to compete for Australia, attributed the change for contributing to immense “mental and emotional strain.”

Additional factors included the continued challenge of being away from her family and the demanding circuit routine.

“My well-being has suffered for a considerable period and, honestly speaking, my on-court achievements demonstrate it,” she shared on social media.

She added, “The reality is, I've encountered a barrier and must stop now. I require time off. A break from the repetitive routine of professional tennis, the travel, the results, the pressure, the familiar opponents (my apologies, everyone), each element involved in this career.”

Private Difficulties and Future Hopes

“I can only handle I can deal with and take as an individual woman, all whilst facing off against the top competitors in the world.”

“If people consider this a flaw, then so be it, it's true. However, I believe in my strength and will grow by taking time off, recharging, reorganizing and reenergising. It's time I listened to myself for a change, my thoughts, my feelings and my physical self.”

She opted to alter nationality after exiting her home country due to fears for her security, having publicly spoken against the government'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 the spring.

She later got engaged to companion an ex-Olympic athlete, who secured a Olympic silver for Russia at the 2018 Winter Olympics after initially participating for her home country of Estonia.

She additionally shared she has been separated from her dad, who remains in Russia, for an extended period.

Professional Background

A French Open semi-finalist in the past, the player had finished the previous four seasons ranked in the top ten but is now outside the top 15 after a mixed season where she secured 19 victories against 21 defeats.

She is projected to drop out of the leading positions by the time the home major takes place.

The professional athlete confirmed she plans to come back in the following season, “energised and ready to rock,” with the preparation for her home grand slam likely serving as a key objective.

Wider Context

Australia's second-ranked player is another Australian athlete, holding the 35th position.

She is the most recent elite athlete to withdraw from the tour, following two other stars, amid a notable increase of players retiring mid-match.

The Women's Tennis Association obligates top competitors to compete in a set number of tournaments, including the four grand slams, 10 WTA 1,000 events, and additional WTA events.

But world No. 2 the Polish star remarked recently, “There's no way to accommodate everything the schedule. Perhaps I will have to choose some competitions and skip them, despite the fact that they are mandatory.

“We must think carefully about it - not really unfortunately care about the regulations and just consider what's healthy for us.”