Russian-born tennis star Daria Kasatkina will end her season early after reaching a mental and emotional "breaking point," she announced Monday on social media.
Oct. 6 (UPI) -- Russian-born tennis star Daria Kasatkina will end her season early after reaching a mental and emotional "breaking point," she announced Monday on social media.
"'I'm fine,' words I am sure we have all heard from many women and many different walks of life use, knowing they're not fine, they're far from fine, but they continue, breaking themselves a little more each time," Kasatkina wrote on Instagram and X.
"This is me. 2025 has been my 'I'm fine' year. I've been far from fine for a long time and truth be told, my results and performances show that, the fans aren't stupid, they can see it too."
Kasatkina, 28, sits at No. 19 in the WTA Tour singles rankings. She went 19-22 this season. She lost to No. 60 Sonay Kartal of Great Britain in the Round of 64 of the China Open on Sept. 27 in Beijing.
The 2022 French Open singles semifinalist lost in the third round of her last two Grand Slam appearances -- at Wimbledon 2025 and the 2025 U.S. Open. She plans to return to the tour in 2026.
Kasatkina said she "kept a lid" on her feelings because she didn't want to seem weak or ungrateful of her life as a professional tennis player.
"Truth is, I've hit a wall and I can't continue," Kasatkina said. "I need a break. A break from the monotonous daily grind of life on the tour, the suitcases, the results, the pressure, the same faces (sorry girls). Everything that comes with this life. The schedule is too much, mentally and emotionally I am at a breaking point and sadly, I am not alone."
Kasatkina also cited the "emotional and mental stress" related to her nationality switch earlier this year from Russia to Australia and not being able to see her parents.
"If this makes me weak, then so be it, I'm weak," Kasatkina said. "However, I know I am strong and will get stronger by being away, recharging, regrouping and reenergizing. It's time I listened to myself for a change, my mind, my heart and my body."
Kasatkina's decision to step away from the tour is just the latest in a string of similar choices made by other women's tennis stars over the last several years. Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil each announced last month that they decided to end their seasons early.
Naomi Osaka, Amanda Anisimova and Alexander Zverev are among other tennis stars who temporarily stepped away from the sport for mental health related reasons in recent years.
Anisimova, who reached her first Grand Slam singles final at the 2025 U.S. Open, won the China Open singles title Sunday in Beijing.
Women's tennis players are currently competing in the Wuhan Open in Wuhan, China. The Japan Open -- a WTA 250 event -- is the next tournament on the WTA schedule. That competition will be held from Oct. 13 to 19 in Osaka.
Category: General Sports
