The excitement surrounding the Australian Open draw for 2026 is palpable, with Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz proudly holding the top seed positions as we gear up for the first Grand Slam of the new year.
Among the athletes to keep an eye on, there’s a new face representing Australia: Daria Kasatkina. She made headlines by switching her national allegiance from Russia to Australia in March 2025, which means this summer marks her debut competing under the Australian flag at Melbourne Park.
Recently, I had the pleasure of engaging in an extensive conversation with her for this Saturday’s edition of Good Weekend, where we delved into various topics, including her coming out story in 2022, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and her evolving relationship with tennis over the years.
Here’s a sneak peek of that discussion. You can find the full feature here (https://www.theage.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p5neq5).
Not too long ago, Daria Kasatkina found herself in a profound identity crisis. She experienced a waning passion for the sport, coupled with a reluctance to travel for tournaments, engage with the media, or fulfill the expectations that came with her professional role. In fact, she even dealt with hair loss during this tumultuous time. After dedicating eleven years to the women’s professional tennis circuit—constantly traveling, training, competing, and recovering—she reached a breaking point. Consequently, in October 2025, she made a pivotal decision: it was time to end her season prematurely.
"The initial three weeks of my break were honestly dreadful," she shared during our video call from Barcelona, where she trains. "Even though I was supposed to be resting and taking a step back, I spent those first three weeks feeling utterly lost—questioning my identity and purpose."
As we talked, it had been nearly six weeks since she last held a racquet. While the tennis tour pressed on without her—because it always does—Kasatkina had mentally distanced herself from the game that once brought her joy. "I felt an overwhelming hatred towards what I was doing," she admitted. "I didn’t want to be out there on the court anymore."
This realization was particularly painful for someone who had once enjoyed considerable success, peaking at world No. 8 and amassing a commendable number of eight titles, starting with her first win in Charleston, South Carolina, on clay in 2017. She was part of the Russian team that triumphed in the Billie Jean King Cup in 2021, and she reached her first Grand Slam semi-final at Roland Garros in 2022—achievements that many players only dream of.
However, by the end of 2025, the lows of her career had become distressingly frequent. On-court performances faltered; she found herself losing matches that she typically would have won against lower-ranked opponents. For the first time since 2019, her losses (22) surpassed her victories (19) for the season.
Off the court, her struggles deepened. "The past few years have been incredibly tough," she reflected. "Initially, I managed to cope with the pressure and the surrounding circumstances, but after three and a half years, I recognized that I was beginning to crack under the strain."
This candid insight into her life raises important questions: How do athletes cope with the immense pressure of their careers? What happens when passion turns to pain? And how do they navigate their identities in the face of adversity? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this—feel free to share your opinions or experiences in the comments!
