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Australia's top-ranked WTA competitor has opted to pause her career until the end of the current year, explaining she is at her “emotional and mental breaking point.”

Reasons Behind the Decision

Daria Kasatkina, who this year altered her nationality from Russia to Australia, credited the move for contributing to significant “psychological stress.”

Additional factors consisted of the persistent struggle of being away from her loved ones and the relentless circuit routine.

“My well-being has suffered for a considerable period and, truth be told, my results and performances show it,” she shared on her online accounts.

She continued, “Honestly, I've encountered a barrier and must stop now. I must take a hiatus. A break from the tedious cycle of professional tennis, the constant packing, the results, the pressure, the familiar opponents (my apologies, everyone), all aspects of this life.”

Individual Challenges and Upcoming Goals

“I can only handle I can deal with and handle as a female athlete, all whilst battling the leading players in the world.”

“Should this be seen as weakness, then that's acceptable, I am fragile. But, I am confident in my resilience and will grow by being away, recharging, recalibrating and renewing. It's time I listened to myself for a shift, my mind, my feelings and my body.”

Kasatkina opted to alter allegiance after leaving her home country due to safety concerns, having publicly spoken against the country's policies affecting the queer community and the conflict in Ukraine. After initially residing in the Middle East, she moved to Australia and became a permanent resident in early this year.

She subsequently became engaged to longtime girlfriend Natalia Zabiiako, who won a Olympic silver for Russia at the 2018 Winter Olympics after initially participating for her home country of Estonia.

She also revealed she has been separated from her dad, who stayed behind in Russia, for several years.

Professional Background

A French Open semi-finalist in 2022, the player had ended the previous four seasons among the world's best but is now 19th after a mixed season where she had a near-even record.

She is expected to drop out of the leading positions by the time the home major arrives.

The professional athlete announced she aims to resume in 2026, “energised and ready to rock,” with the lead-in to her local Grand Slam likely serving as a comeback goal.

Broader Implications

The nation's current No. 2 is Maya Joint, placed 35th in the world.

She is the most recent top WTA competitor to cut short their year, following Paula Badosa and Elina Svitolina, amid a growing pattern of players retiring mid-match.

The tour governing body mandates elite athletes to compete in a minimum of 20 events, encompassing the major tournaments, 10 WTA 1,000 events, and six 500-level tournaments.

But world No. 2 a leading athlete remarked in the past, “There's no way to fit it all in the schedule. Maybe I will have to select some tournaments and skip them, even though they are obligatory.

“It's essential to plan wisely about it - perhaps ignoring about the regulations and just focus on what's good for us.”