Top-Ranked Player Kasatkina Announces Temporary Pause Citing ‘Psychological Pressure’
The nation's leading female tennis athlete has decided to pause her career throughout the rest of the 2025 season, explaining she is at her “mental and emotional breaking point.”
Causes of the Announcement
Daria Kasatkina, who recently changed her citizenship to represent Australia, attributed the move for contributing to considerable “emotional and mental strain.”
Other reasons included the ongoing difficulty of being separated from her relatives and the demanding competition calendar.
“I haven't been okay for a long time and, truth be told, my results and performances demonstrate it,” she shared on her online accounts.
She stated, “The reality is, I've encountered a barrier and am unable to proceed. I need a break. A pause from the repetitive routine of life on the tour, the travel, the results, the pressure, the regular competitors (sorry, girls), everything that comes with this existence.”
Private Difficulties and Upcoming Goals
“I can only handle I can endure and cope with as a person, all whilst competing with the leading players in the world.”
“Should this be seen as weakness, then that's acceptable, I'm weak. However, I am confident in my resilience and will improve by stepping back, resting, regrouping and revitalizing. The moment has come I listened to myself for a shift, my thoughts, my heart and my body.”
The athlete chose to switch allegiance after departing her home country due to apprehensions about her well-being, having openly opposed the country's legislation targeting LGBTQ+ individuals and the invasion of Ukraine. Originally based in the UAE, she relocated to Australia and became a permanent resident in the spring.
She later got engaged to longtime girlfriend an ex-Olympic athlete, who secured a silver medal for her birth country at the PyeongChang Games after first representing for her native Estonia.
She additionally shared she has been separated from her parent, who remains in Russia, for an extended period.
Career Context
A French Open semi-finalist in the past, the player had finished the last four calendar years ranked in the top ten but is now outside the top 15 after a challenging season where she secured 19 victories against 21 defeats.
She is likely to drop out of the top 20 by the time the next Grand Slam takes place.
The tennis veteran stated she aims to resume in next year, “recharged and motivated,” with the preparation for her domestic major expected to be a key objective.
Industry Impact
The nation's second-ranked player is a rising star, holding the 35th position.
Kasatkina is the third leading female player to withdraw from the tour, following two other stars, amid a notable increase of players retiring mid-match.
The WTA mandates top competitors to participate in a required schedule, encompassing the Grand Slam events, top-tier competitions, and additional WTA events.
But elite competitor a leading athlete stated in the past, “There's no way to fit it all in the itinerary. It's possible I will have to pick some competitions and miss them, despite the fact that they are obligatory.
“It's essential to plan wisely about it - possibly disregarding about the regulations and just think what's good for us.”
