Daria Kasatkina Announces Career Break Citing ‘Mental Stress’

Australia's highest-rated female tennis athlete has opted to pause her career for the remainder of the tennis calendar, admitting she is at her “emotional and mental breaking point.”

Reasons Behind the Decision

Daria Kasatkina, who this year altered her allegiance to compete for Australia, blamed the change for contributing to considerable “mental and emotional pressure.”

Further contributors included the continued challenge of being distant from her loved ones and the demanding circuit routine.

“I haven't been okay for a considerable period and, honestly speaking, my on-court achievements demonstrate it,” she wrote on her online accounts.

She continued, “Truth is, I've reached my limit and can't continue. I require time off. A pause from the monotonous daily grind of life on the tour, the travel, the results, the pressure, the regular competitors (sorry, girls), each element involved in this career.”

Private Difficulties and Future Hopes

“There's only so much I can manage and handle as a female athlete, all whilst battling the leading players in the world.”

“If this makes me weak, then so be it, I am fragile. However, I know I am strong and will improve by stepping back, refreshing, reorganizing and renewing. Now is the moment I listened to myself for a difference, my mind, my heart and my physical self.”

Kasatkina chose to switch citizenship after departing Russia due to apprehensions about her well-being, having previously criticized the government's anti-LGBTQ+ laws and the war on Ukraine. First living in the UAE, she settled in her new home and secured long-term status in March.

She subsequently became engaged to longtime girlfriend an ex-Olympic athlete, who secured a second-place finish for her former team at the 2018 Winter Olympics after first representing for her birth nation Estonia.

Kasatkina also revealed she has been unable to visit her parent, who stayed behind in Russia, for an extended period.

Career Context

A French Open semi-finalist in the past, Kasatkina had concluded the previous four seasons in the elite group but is presently 19th after a modest season where she won 19 and lost 21.

She is projected to fall from the leading positions by the time the Australian Open arrives.

The professional athlete confirmed she aims to resume in next year, “energised and ready to rock,” with the lead-in to her domestic major likely serving as a return target.

Broader Implications

The nation's next best competitor is another Australian athlete, ranked 35th globally.

Kasatkina is the third leading female player to end their season early, following Paula Badosa and Elina Svitolina, amid a notable increase of players retiring mid-match.

The tour governing body requires top competitors to appear at a set number of tournaments, including the four grand slams, premier tour stops, and six 500-level tournaments.

But world No. 2 a leading athlete stated recently, “There's no way to accommodate everything the schedule. Maybe I will have to select some competitions and skip them, although they are mandatory.

“It's essential to plan wisely about it - perhaps ignoring about the guidelines and just think what's beneficial for us.”