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The nation's leading women's tennis player has decided to take a break throughout the rest of the current year, stating she is at her “emotional and mental threshold.”

Reasons Behind the Announcement

The tennis professional, who earlier switched her allegiance to compete for Australia, credited the move for contributing to immense “emotional and mental strain.”

Other reasons involved the continued challenge of being away from her relatives and the relentless circuit routine.

“My well-being has suffered for a extended duration and, truth be told, my match outcomes and showings show it,” she shared on her online accounts.

She added, “Truth is, I've hit a wall and am unable to proceed. I need a break. A pause from the repetitive routine of the tennis circuit, the travel, the outcomes, the pressure, the same faces (apologies, ladies), each element involved in this existence.”

Private Difficulties and Upcoming Goals

“I can only handle I can endure and cope with as a person, all whilst facing off against the top competitors in the world.”

“If people consider this a flaw, then so be it, I am fragile. But, I believe in my strength and will grow by being away, recharging, reorganizing and renewing. The moment has come I heeded my own needs for a change, my brain, my feelings and my body.”

Kasatkina decided to change nationality after exiting Russia due to safety concerns, having publicly spoken against the country's legislation targeting LGBTQ+ individuals and the invasion of Ukraine. First living in the Middle East, she relocated to Melbourne and obtained permanent residency in March.

She later got engaged to partner Natalia Zabiiako, who won a Olympic silver for her birth country at the PyeongChang Games after initially participating for her home country of Estonia.

She additionally shared she has not seen her dad, who stayed behind in Russia, for four 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 ranked 19th after a challenging season where she won 19 and lost 21.

She is likely to drop out of the top 20 by the time the home major arrives.

The professional athlete announced she plans to come back in the following season, “energised and ready to rock,” with the preparation for her local Grand Slam expected to be a key objective.

Wider Context

The nation's second-ranked player is Maya Joint, placed 35th in the world.

She is the most recent leading female player to end their season early, following other prominent players, amid a notable increase of athletes withdrawing during competitions.

The tour governing body mandates leading players to compete in a minimum of 20 events, featuring the major tournaments, premier tour stops, and lower-tier matches.

But elite competitor a leading athlete remarked in the past, “There's no way to accommodate everything the schedule. It's possible I will have to select some competitions and skip them, although they are mandatory.

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