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The nation's leading WTA competitor has decided to take a break throughout the rest of the tennis calendar, stating she is at her “emotional and mental breaking point.”

Reasons Behind the Choice

Daria Kasatkina, who this year altered her citizenship to represent Australia, attributed the change for contributing to considerable “emotional and mental pressure.”

Additional factors included the ongoing difficulty of being away from her loved ones and the relentless tour schedule.

“I've been far from fine for a long time and, truth be told, my on-court achievements demonstrate it,” she shared on digital platforms.

She added, “Truth is, I've reached my limit and must stop now. I require time off. A break from the monotonous daily grind of life on the tour, the constant packing, the results, the expectations, the familiar opponents (sorry, girls), all aspects of this career.”

Individual Challenges and Upcoming Goals

“I can only handle I can endure and take as an individual woman, all whilst competing with the top competitors in the world.”

“If this makes me weak, then that's acceptable, I'm weak. However, I am confident in my resilience and will get stronger by being away, refreshing, recalibrating and renewing. It's time I listened to myself for a difference, my brain, my emotions and my health.”

Kasatkina opted to alter citizenship after leaving 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 UAE, she settled in her new home and became a permanent resident in early this year.

She subsequently became engaged to companion an ex-Olympic athlete, who secured a silver medal for Russia at the PyeongChang Games after initially participating for her birth nation Estonia.

She further mentioned she has been separated from her dad, who still lives in her homeland, for four years.

Professional Background

A Roland Garros final four competitor in recent years, Kasatkina had concluded the recent years in the elite group but is presently ranked 19th after a challenging season where she had a near-even record.

She is expected to drop out of the top 20 by the time the home major takes place.

The tennis veteran announced she will return in next year, “energised and ready to rock,” with the lead-in to her home grand slam probably acting as a return target.

Wider Context

The nation's second-ranked player is Maya Joint, placed 35th in the world.

The Australian No. 1 is the most recent elite athlete to withdraw from the tour, following Paula Badosa and Elina Svitolina, amid a growing pattern of athletes withdrawing during competitions.

The tour governing body requires elite athletes to compete in a set number of tournaments, encompassing the major tournaments, 10 WTA 1,000 events, and lower-tier matches.

But elite competitor Iga Swiatek stated last month, “It's just impossible to fit it all in the itinerary. Perhaps I will have to select some tournaments and skip them, despite the fact that they are required.

“We have to be smart about it - perhaps ignoring about the rules and just think what's beneficial for us.”