“I feel like a lot of weight has dropped off my shoulders. I am free and happy. For me this is the most important thing and … I feel this decision is right,” Daria Kasatkina declared in May before the 2025 French Open, her voice filled with relief after gaining permanent residency in Australia, a move shaped by Russia’s stance on gay rights and the war in Ukraine. Yet, as the season failed to unfold the way she had hoped, the emotional toll grew heavier. Now, in a sudden turn, Kasatkina has stepped away from tennis, with her nationality switch weighing heavily and keeping her apart from her father, as the mounting pressure became too much to bear.

In a deeply emotional Instagram story , 28-year-old WTA star Daria Kasatkina opened up about the hidden battles behind her season. She be

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