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Australia's highest-rated women's tennis player has decided to take a break for the remainder of the tennis calendar, admitting she is at her “mental and emotional threshold.”

Causes of the Choice

The tennis professional, who this year altered her allegiance to compete for Australia, blamed the transition for contributing to significant “psychological pressure.”

Other reasons included the continued challenge of being distant from her relatives and the demanding competition calendar.

“My well-being has suffered for a extended duration and, to be frank, my results and performances reflect that,” she shared on her online accounts.

She continued, “Honestly, I've encountered a barrier and can't continue. I need a break. A rest from the repetitive routine of life on the tour, the constant packing, the scores, the stress, the same faces (my apologies, everyone), each element involved in this career.”

Personal Struggles and Return Plans

“I can only handle I can manage and take as an individual woman, all whilst battling the top competitors in the world.”

“If people consider this a flaw, then that's acceptable, I am fragile. That said, I believe in my strength and will get stronger by stepping back, resting, recalibrating and renewing. Now is the moment I paid attention to my instincts for a shift, my thoughts, my feelings and my body.”

She decided to change nationality after exiting Russia due to safety concerns, having publicly spoken against the government's policies affecting the queer community and the invasion of Ukraine. Originally based in the UAE, she settled in Australia and obtained permanent residency in the spring.

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

The tennis star further mentioned she has been unable to visit her parent, who remains in Russia, for four years.

Career Context

A French Open semi-finalist in recent years, Kasatkina had finished the last four calendar years ranked in the top ten but is now outside the top 15 after a mixed season where she secured 19 victories against 21 defeats.

She is projected to fall from the leading positions by the time the home major takes place.

The professional athlete stated she will return in next year, “refreshed and prepared,” with the preparation for her domestic major probably acting as a key objective.

Industry Impact

The nation's second-ranked player is another Australian athlete, ranked 35th globally.

She is the latest leading female player to end their season early, following Paula Badosa and Elina Svitolina, amid a recent trend of players retiring mid-match.

The tour governing body requires elite athletes to participate in a set number of tournaments, encompassing the four grand slams, premier tour stops, and additional WTA events.

But top-ranked player the Polish star remarked recently, “There's no way to fit it all in the calendar. It's possible I will have to pick some events and skip them, even though they are mandatory.

“We have to be smart about it - possibly disregarding about the rules and just focus on what's beneficial for us.”