Daria Kasatkina Reveals Temporary Pause Due to ‘Mental Stress’

Australia's leading women's tennis player has opted to step away throughout the rest of the tennis calendar, explaining she is at her “emotional and mental threshold.”

Reasons Behind the Decision

Daria Kasatkina, who earlier switched her citizenship to represent Australia, credited the change for contributing to considerable “emotional and mental strain.”

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

“My well-being has suffered for a long time and, honestly speaking, my results and performances reflect that,” she wrote on social media.

She stated, “Truth is, I've reached my limit and am unable to proceed. I must take a hiatus. A rest from the repetitive routine of the tennis circuit, the travel, the results, the pressure, the same faces (apologies, ladies), everything that comes with this life.”

Individual Challenges and Upcoming Goals

“Each person has a limit I can deal with and cope with as a person, all whilst facing off against the best female athletes in the world.”

“If people consider this a flaw, then I accept it, I'm weak. But, I believe in my strength and will grow by taking time off, refreshing, regrouping and reenergising. It's time I paid attention to my instincts for a change, my mind, my emotions and my body.”

She chose to switch citizenship after departing her home country due to fears for her security, having openly opposed the country's legislation targeting LGBTQ+ individuals and the war on Ukraine. First living in the UAE, she settled in Australia and obtained permanent residency in early this year.

She later got engaged to longtime girlfriend an ex-Olympic athlete, who previously earned a Olympic silver for her former team at the PyeongChang Games after first representing for her home country of Estonia.

Kasatkina also revealed she has been separated from her father, who remains in Russia, for an extended period.

Career Context

A major tournament contender in the past, Kasatkina had finished the last four calendar years ranked in the top ten but is presently outside the top 15 after a challenging season where she secured 19 victories against 21 defeats.

She is expected to drop out of the leading positions by the time the Australian Open takes place.

The 28-year-old stated she plans to come back in 2026, “recharged and motivated,” with the build-up to her domestic major probably acting as a comeback goal.

Industry Impact

The nation's second-ranked player is a rising star, ranked 35th globally.

Kasatkina is the most recent leading female player to cut short their year, following Paula Badosa and Elina Svitolina, amid a growing pattern of athletes withdrawing during competitions.

The Women's Tennis Association mandates elite athletes to compete in a minimum of 20 events, including the four grand slams, top-tier competitions, and additional WTA events.

But world No. 2 the Polish star stated last month, “It's just impossible to fit it all in the schedule. Maybe I will have to select some competitions and skip them, although they are mandatory.

“We have to be smart about it - not really unfortunately care about the guidelines and just consider what's beneficial for us.”