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Australia's leading female tennis athlete has opted to take a break until the end of the current year, explaining she is at her “emotional and mental limit.”

Causes of the Choice

The tennis professional, who recently changed her allegiance to compete for Australia, credited the change for contributing to significant “mental and emotional stress.”

Other reasons involved the continued challenge of being distant from her loved ones and the demanding tour schedule.

“I haven't been okay for a considerable period and, truth be told, my results and performances reflect that,” she shared on her online accounts.

She stated, “Truth is, I've hit a wall and can't continue. I require time off. A break from the tedious cycle of professional tennis, the constant packing, the scores, the stress, the familiar opponents (apologies, ladies), all aspects of this career.”

Individual Challenges and Future Hopes

“Each person has a limit I can deal with and take as an individual woman, all whilst facing off against the top competitors in the world.”

“If this makes me weak, then I accept it, it's true. That said, I am confident in my resilience and will improve by taking time off, refreshing, regrouping and reenergising. The moment has come I heeded my own needs for a difference, my thoughts, my emotions and my physical self.”

Kasatkina opted to alter allegiance after exiting Russia due to fears for her security, having openly opposed the country's legislation targeting LGBTQ+ individuals and the conflict in Ukraine. After initially residing in Dubai, she settled in her new home and obtained permanent residency in the spring.

She later got engaged to longtime girlfriend a former Olympic figure skater, who secured a silver medal for her former team at the last Winter Olympics after earlier competing for her birth nation Estonia.

Kasatkina further mentioned she has been separated from her dad, who still lives in her homeland, for several years.

Professional Background

A French Open semi-finalist in recent years, she had finished the last four calendar years among the world's best but is now 19th after a modest season where she secured 19 victories against 21 defeats.

She is projected to exit the leading positions by the time the home major begins.

The 28-year-old stated she aims to resume in next year, “refreshed and prepared,” with the lead-in to her domestic major expected to be a key objective.

Industry Impact

The nation's second-ranked player is a rising star, ranked 35th globally.

Kasatkina is the most recent leading female player to withdraw from the tour, following other prominent players, amid a growing pattern of competitors stopping mid-game.

The Women's Tennis Association requires top competitors to appear at a minimum of 20 events, encompassing the Grand Slam events, top-tier competitions, and lower-tier matches.

But elite competitor the Polish star remarked last month, “It's not feasible to squeeze it in the schedule. Perhaps I will have to choose some tournaments and skip them, even though they are required.

“It's essential to plan wisely about it - not really unfortunately care about the regulations and just focus on what's good for us.”