Professional Player Daria Kasatkina Ends Campaign Prematurely, Pointing to Emotional Exhaustion
World number 19 the tennis professional announced she is at her "breaking point" and chose to conclude her competitive year ahead of schedule, characterizing the intense calendar as "excessive, mentally and emotionally."
The 28-year-old switched her nationality from Russia to Australia in March, following public criticism regarding her home country's LGBTQ+ laws and the ongoing conflict in the Ukrainian region.
She struggled with consistency throughout the season, not managing to secure a title and finishing with a record of 19-21.
Kasatkina linked the emotional stress from her nationality switch as a major contributor to her difficulties, which involve not seeing her father for four years.
She wrote in a detailed post: "I've been not okay for quite a while and, truth be told, my on-court showings show that."
"I have reached my limit and sadly I am not alone," she added.
"Add in the mix the emotional and mental stress related to my citizenship change and I can only handle so much I can manage and endure as an individual woman."
"If this makes me fragile, then I accept it, I am not strong enough," she stated.
"Nonetheless, I believe I am resilient and will grow stronger by being away and restoring my energy."
"The moment has come I listened to my own needs for a change."
Fellow Athletes Similarly Halting Their Years Prematurely
Former top-five players Elina Svitolina and Badosa similarly concluded their seasons ahead of time in the past few weeks.
The Ukrainian star mentioned she had "not been feeling her usual self", while the Spanish player has discussed the psychological impact of an ongoing spinal issue.
Additional athletes have also spoken about the impact of the tennis calendar.
Five players withdrew injured in a pair of events in the Chinese tournaments recently, with six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek commenting the competitive year is "too long and intense."
Tour Requirements and Athlete Issues
The WTA has made it mandatory for elite athletes to compete in every Grand Slam, ten premier events and six secondary competitions.
The bulk of 1000 events on the women's and men's circuits run for a fortnight, as do each of the major championships.
Players may miss mandatory events if they are injured or have private matters, but they will receive no rankings points or financial rewards if they do not play.
Ex-top ranked player Novak Djokovic, who has reduced his tournament appearances in lately to protect his body, has called on fellow professionals to be better aligned in forcing change.
