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Australia's leading women's tennis player has decided to pause her career for the remainder of the tennis calendar, explaining she is at her “emotional and mental breaking point.”

Causes of the Decision

The Australian No. 1, who recently changed her allegiance to compete for Australia, credited the move for contributing to immense “psychological stress.”

Additional factors involved the persistent struggle of being away from her loved ones and the relentless competition calendar.

“I haven't been okay for a extended duration and, honestly speaking, my match outcomes and showings reflect that,” she shared on digital platforms.

She added, “The reality is, I've hit a wall and can't continue. I must take a hiatus. A break from the repetitive routine of professional tennis, the constant packing, the scores, the expectations, the familiar opponents (sorry, girls), each element involved in this life.”

Personal Struggles and Return Plans

“Each person has a limit I can manage and handle as a female athlete, all whilst competing with the leading players in the world.”

“Should this be seen as weakness, then that's acceptable, it's true. But, I am confident in my resilience and will grow by being away, refreshing, reorganizing and revitalizing. The moment has come I heeded my own needs for a change, my thoughts, my feelings and my body.”

Kasatkina opted to alter nationality after departing her home country due to safety concerns, having openly opposed the government's policies affecting the queer community and the invasion of Ukraine. Originally based in the Middle East, she moved to Australia and obtained permanent residency in March.

She later got engaged to companion an ex-Olympic athlete, who won a second-place finish for Russia at the 2018 Winter Olympics after first representing for her home country of Estonia.

The tennis star further mentioned she has been unable to visit her father, who remains in Russia, for an extended period.

Career Context

A major tournament contender in the past, Kasatkina had concluded the previous four seasons ranked in the top ten but is presently ranked 19th after a challenging season where she secured 19 victories against 21 defeats.

She is likely to fall from the leading positions by the time the Australian Open arrives.

The 28-year-old confirmed she aims to resume in 2026, “refreshed and prepared,” with the lead-in to her home grand slam expected to be a comeback goal.

Industry Impact

The nation's current No. 2 is another Australian athlete, placed 35th in the world.

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

The WTA requires top competitors to compete in a minimum of 20 events, encompassing the Grand Slam events, premier tour stops, and additional WTA events.

But world No. 2 a leading athlete remarked last month, “It's not feasible to squeeze it in the calendar. It's possible I will have to pick some competitions and skip them, even though they are obligatory.

“We must think carefully about it - not really unfortunately care about the guidelines and just consider what's beneficial for us.”