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The nation's leading women's tennis player has decided to step away until the end of the current year, admitting she is at her “mental and emotional threshold.”

Causes of the Choice

Daria Kasatkina, who earlier switched her nationality from Russia to Australia, blamed the change for contributing to considerable “mental and emotional stress.”

Additional factors included the continued challenge of being distant from her loved ones and the relentless tour schedule.

“I've been far from fine for a long time and, honestly speaking, my on-court achievements reflect that,” she posted on social media.

She stated, “Honestly, I've hit a wall and must stop now. I require time off. A break from the monotonous daily grind of professional tennis, the travel, the outcomes, the pressure, the regular competitors (sorry, girls), each element involved in this career.”

Private Difficulties and Return Plans

“There's only so much I can manage and cope with as a person, all whilst facing off against the best female athletes in the world.”

“If this makes me weak, then so be it, I'm weak. However, I am confident in my resilience and will get stronger by being away, refreshing, recalibrating and renewing. The moment has come I paid attention to my instincts for a shift, my thoughts, my heart and my physical self.”

The athlete decided to change citizenship after exiting Russia due to apprehensions about her well-being, having openly opposed the government's legislation targeting LGBTQ+ individuals and the war on Ukraine. After initially residing in the Middle East, she settled in her new home and became a permanent resident in the spring.

She later got engaged to companion a former Olympic figure skater, who secured a second-place finish for her former team at the PyeongChang Games after earlier competing for her home country of Estonia.

She additionally shared she has not seen her father, who still lives in her homeland, for several years.

Professional Background

A French Open semi-finalist in 2022, the player had finished the last four calendar years in the elite group but is now ranked 19th after a mixed season where she secured 19 victories against 21 defeats.

She is expected to fall from the leading positions by the time the home major takes place.

The professional athlete announced she plans to come back in the following season, “energised and ready to rock,” with the lead-in to her local Grand Slam probably acting as a comeback goal.

Industry Impact

The nation's next best competitor is Maya Joint, placed 35th in the world.

Kasatkina is the third elite athlete to end their season early, following Paula Badosa and Elina Svitolina, amid a growing pattern of players retiring mid-match.

The Women's Tennis Association mandates leading players to compete in a required schedule, encompassing the four grand slams, 10 WTA 1,000 events, and additional WTA events.

But elite competitor a leading athlete remarked last month, “It's not feasible to fit it all in the calendar. Perhaps I will have to pick some competitions and omit them, although they are mandatory.

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