Daria Kasatkina ends 2025 tennis season early, citing burnout

Australian women's number one Daria Kasatkina is stepping away from tennis for the rest of the year, saying she is "at breaking point" after a draining year on tour.

Kasatkina, who switched nationality from Russia to Australia this year, immediately becoming national number one, blamed the "emotional and mental stress" related to that change, the strain of not seeing her family and the relentless schedule of the tennis circuit.

"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," she wrote on social media.

"Truth is, I've hit a wall and can't continue. 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.

"There's only so much I can deal with and take as an individual woman, all whilst competing with the best female athletes in the world.

"If this makes me weak, then so be it, I'm weak. However, I know I am strong and will get stronger by being away, recharging, regrouping and reenergising. It's time I listened to myself for a change, my mind, my heart and my body."

Kasatkina opted to switch nationality after leaving Russia fearing for her safety having criticised the country's anti-LGBTQ+ laws and the war on Ukraine.

Initially living in Dubai, she moved to Melbourne and became a permanent Australian resident in March.

She subsequently became engaged to long-time girlfriend Natalia Zabiiako, a former Olympic figure skater, who won a silver medal for Russia at the 2018 Winter Olympics, having earlier competed for her native Estonia.

Kasatkina said she had not been able to see her father, who remains in Russia, for four years.

A French Open semifinalist in 2022, Kasatkina has not reached a slam quarterfinal since and finished the last four calendar years ranked in the top 10, but is currently 19th after a modest season in which she won 19 and lost 21 matches.

Kasatkina's last match was a comprehensive 6-3, 6-0 loss to world number 81 Sonay Kartal at the China Open in Beijing late last month.

Kasatkina is the third leading female player to join "the 2025 tap out club" following Paula Badosa and Elina Svitolina, and there has been a spate of players retiring mid-match recently, with burnout a watch word on both the men's and women's tours in 2025.

"The schedule is too much, mentally and emotionally I am at breaking point and sadly, I am not alone," she wrote, adding she did not want to appear ungrateful for her "amazing life" as a professional tennis player.

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has made it mandatory for leading players to participate in a minimum 20 events including the four grand slams, 10 WTA 1,000 events and six 500-level tournaments.

World number two Iga Świątek said last month: "It's just impossible to squeeze it in the schedule. Maybe I will have to choose some tournaments and skip them, even though they are mandatory.

"We have to be smart about it — not really unfortunately care about the rules and just think what's healthy for us."

Kasatkina will almost certainly be out of the top 20 by the time her first bow as a local favourite at the Australian Open comes around.

The 28-year-old said she would be back in 2026, "energised and ready to rock", and has spoken in the past about her excitement of playing a home grand slam.

Australia's current number two is Maya Joint, ranked 35th globally.

She was in action on Monday in the Wuhan Open, defeating Lin Zhu 7-5, 7-6 (12-10) to move into the last 32.

There she will meet Kateřina Siniaková, who knocked out 15th seed Diana Schneider 6-4, 6-4.

Joint is the only Australian at the WTA 1000 event.

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