Daria Kasatkina Ends Season to Prioritize Mental Health
Australian tennis player of Russian origin, Daria Kasatkina, has announced that she will end her season early. This decision, according to the player herself, is due to the need to prioritize her mental well-being after reaching a breaking point in her professional career. Kasatkina, currently ranked number 19 in the world and a semi-finalist at Roland Garros in 2022, has expressed that she feels exhausted by the constant travel and the demanding schedule of the professional circuit. Added to this is the stress of obtaining permanent residency in Australia and the difficulty of being able to see her parents. Kasatkina, engaged to Olympic figure skating medalist Natalia Zabiiako, revealed in an interview that she cannot return to Russia due to her sexual orientation and her opposition to the war in Ukraine.Through her social media, Kasatkina shared her feelings, indicating that the calendar is too demanding and that she is emotionally at a critical point, a situation that, according to her, other players share. The tennis player has also announced that she plans to return in 2026, with renewed energy and ready to compete. Kasatkina has acknowledged that she hasn’t felt well for a long time and that her results on the court have been affected. She kept her feelings hidden for fear of appearing ungrateful. This decision adds to that of other tennis players who have chosen to end their seasons early to rest and recover. Kasatkina’s last match was a loss to Sonay Kartal in the second round of the China Open on September 27th. Her last title was won at the Ningbo Open in October 2024.The truth is that I have reached a limit and I can’t continue. I need a break. A break from the monotonous daily routine of life on the circuit, the suitcases, the results, the pressure, the same faces (sorry, girls), everything that this life entails.
Daria Kasatkina
