Russian-born Tennis Star Daria Kasatkina Ends Season Early Due to Exhaustion, Plans 2026 Return

Daria Kasatkina, the Russia-born Australian tennis player ranked 19th, has announced she is ending her 2025 season early due to mental and emotional exhaustion, citing a "breaking point" from the demanding tour schedule, travel, and personal challenges including the stress of gaining Australian residency and being separated from her parents. She revealed that she has been struggling for a long time but kept her feelings private to avoid seeming ungrateful. Kasatkina, who is openly gay and has publicly opposed Russia's war in Ukraine, switched her nationality to Australia earlier this year to live authentically. She plans to return refreshed in 2026 and is part of a growing trend among WTA players like Elina Svitolina and Beatriz Haddad Maia who have also ended their seasons early for mental health reasons. The demanding WTA Tour schedule has been criticized by top players like Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff for its intensity and mandatory events, raising concerns about player wellbeing. Kasatkina's recent poor results, including a loss to Sonay Kartal at the China Open and her lowest ranking since May 2022, reflect the toll that the pressure has taken on her performance.