Renowned tennis player Daria Kasatkina, representing Australia (and born in Russia), has announced the premature conclusion of her current tennis season. This decision stems from mental health challenges and reaching a “breaking point” amidst the intense competitive circuit.
Kasatkina, currently ranked 19th globally and a French Open semifinalist in 2022, stated on Monday that she feels completely drained. This exhaustion is attributed to the constant travel required by the tennis tour, the taxing process of securing permanent residency in Australia, and the inability to visit her parents.
In a 2023 interview with The Times of London, Kasatkina, who is engaged to Olympic figure skating medalist Natalia Zabiiako, emphasized that she cannot return to Russia. She explained this by identifying as an openly gay person who opposes the military conflict in Ukraine.
In her Instagram post, the tennis player wrote: “The truth is, I`ve hit a wall and cannot continue. I need a break. A break from the monotonous daily grind of the tour, the suitcases, the results, the pressure, the same faces (sorry, girls), everything that comes with this life.” She added that “the schedule is too much; I am at the edge of mental and emotional exhaustion, and unfortunately, I am not alone.”
Daria plans to make her return to the courts in 2026, “full of energy and ready to rock.”
Kasatkina confessed that she had been “far from fine for a long time,” and this impacted her on-court performance. She tried to conceal her true feelings, fearing she might appear ungrateful.
She joins several other female tennis players, including Elina Svitolina and Beatriz Haddad Maia, who have also chosen to end their seasons early for much-needed rest.
Kasatkina`s last match on tour was a straight-sets loss to Sonay Kartal in the second round of the China Open on September 27. Her most recent title was won at the Ningbo Open in October 2024.
