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Australia's top-ranked women's tennis player has chosen to take a break for the remainder of the 2025 season, admitting she is at her “mental and emotional threshold.”

Factors Leading to the Choice

Daria Kasatkina, who earlier switched her allegiance to compete for Australia, blamed the change for contributing to immense “mental and emotional stress.”

Other reasons included the ongoing difficulty of being separated from her relatives and the demanding tour schedule.

“My well-being has suffered for a considerable period and, honestly speaking, my on-court achievements show it,” she posted on her online accounts.

She added, “Truth is, I've encountered a barrier and am unable to proceed. I require time off. A break from the repetitive routine of professional tennis, the travel, the scores, the pressure, the familiar opponents (apologies, ladies), everything that comes with this life.”

Private Difficulties and Future Hopes

“Each person has a limit I can endure and cope with as a person, all whilst battling the best female athletes in the world.”

“If this makes me weak, then so be it, I'm weak. But, I am confident in my resilience and will get stronger by stepping back, recharging, recalibrating and revitalizing. The moment has come I listened to myself for a difference, my thoughts, my feelings and my health.”

She chose to switch nationality after departing her home country due to apprehensions about her well-being, having openly opposed the nation's anti-LGBTQ+ laws and the war on Ukraine. After initially residing in the Middle East, she relocated to Australia and secured long-term status in early this year.

She subsequently became engaged to partner Natalia Zabiiako, who won a second-place finish for Russia at the PyeongChang Games after earlier competing for her birth nation Estonia.

She additionally shared she has not seen her father, who stayed behind in Russia, for an extended period.

Professional Background

A Roland Garros final four competitor in 2022, Kasatkina had ended the previous four seasons in the elite group but is now outside the top 15 after a challenging season where she had a near-even record.

She is likely to drop out of the top 20 by the time the home major begins.

The tennis veteran stated she will return in 2026, “recharged and motivated,” with the preparation for her local Grand Slam likely serving as a key objective.

Wider Context

The nation's current No. 2 is a rising star, ranked 35th globally.

She is the latest top WTA competitor to end their season early, following two other stars, amid a recent trend of competitors stopping mid-game.

The WTA requires elite athletes to appear at a minimum of 20 events, including the major tournaments, top-tier competitions, and additional WTA events.

But elite competitor Iga Swiatek commented recently, “It's not feasible to squeeze it in the schedule. Maybe I will have to choose some tournaments and miss them, even though they are mandatory.

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