Tennis Star Kasatkina Finishes Season Prematurely, Pointing to Emotional Exhaustion
Ranked 19th globally the tennis professional stated she is at her "breaking point" and has decided to end her tennis season early, characterizing the grueling calendar as "too much, psychologically and personally."
The 28-year-old changed her citizenship from Russia to Australia in the month of March, following public criticism regarding her home country's LGBTQ+ regulations and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Her performance suffered for form this year, not managing to secure a title and finishing with a win-loss tally of 19 wins and 21 losses.
The athlete linked the mental strain from her nationality switch as a significant factor to her difficulties, which involve not seeing her parent for several years.
She expressed in a lengthy statement: "I've been not okay for quite a while and, honestly speaking, my on-court showings show that."
"I am at my limit and unfortunately I am in the same boat as others," she added.
"Add in the mix the emotional and mental stress associated with my citizenship change and there is only so much I can manage and endure as an individual woman."
"Should this label me as weak, then so be it, I am not strong enough," she remarked.
"Nonetheless, I know I am resilient and will grow stronger by taking a break and restoring my energy."
"It's time I listened to myself for a change."
Other Players Also Halting Seasons Prematurely
Ex-elite competitors Elina Svitolina and Paula Badosa similarly concluded their seasons early in recent weeks.
Ukraine's Svitolina mentioned she had "not felt her usual self", while the Spanish player has spoken about the mental toll of an persistent back problem.
Additional athletes have voiced concerns about the effect of the tour schedule.
A quintet of competitors withdrew injured in two tournaments in the Chinese tournaments recently, with multiple major winner Iga Swiatek saying the season is "excessively lengthy and demanding."
Tour Requirements and Athlete Concerns
The WTA requires for top players to participate in every major tournament, ten premier events and six secondary competitions.
The majority of 1000 events on the women's and men's circuits last a fortnight, as do all four major championships.
Players may miss required tournaments if they are injured or have private matters, but they will receive no rankings points or prize money if they opt out.
Former world number one Novak Djokovic, who has slimmed down his schedule in recent years to preserve his health, has called on players to be better aligned in forcing change.
