Melbourne, Australia – Russian-born Australian tennis player Dahlia Casatokina says she’s finishing the season early for mental well-being after hitting a “breakpoint” on the tour.
The 19th Casatokina, France’s open semi-finalist in 2022, said Monday that she was left drained by constant travel on tour schedules, a permanent residency in Australia and a stressful process of not being able to see her parents.
Kasatkina, who works for skate skating Olympic medalist Natalia Zabiako, told the London Times in 2023 that she would not be able to return to Russia in Ukraine “as a gay man against the war.”
“The truth is, I bump into a wall and can’t continue. I need a break. A break from the monotonous daily life on tour, a suitcase, a result, a pressure, the same face (sorry, girl), everything that comes with this life.”
“I have so much schedule, and I’m at a breakpoint, both mentally and emotionally. Sadly, I’m not alone.”
She added that she plans to return to 2026, “I’m “good and ready to rock.”
Kasatokina said she was “not doing well for a long time” and felt that the outcome in court was “putting a lid on” about her fear of looking ungrateful.
She is the latest in a series of players, including Elina Svitolina and Beatriz Haddad Maia, who chose to finish the season early for rest.
Kasatkina’s final match on the tour was directly defeated by Sonay Kartal in the second round of the China Open on September 27th, with her final tour title being played at Ningbo Open in October 2024.
