Australia’s women’s tennis No.1 has put her career on hold for the rest of the year, stating “mentally and emotionally I am at breaking point”.

Daria Kasatkina — who switched nationality from Russia to Australia earlier this year , immediately becoming national No.1 — blamed the “emotional and mental stress” related to that change, the strain of not seeing her family and the relentless schedule of the tennis circuit.

“I’ve been far from fine for a long time and, truth be told, my results and performances show that,” she wrote on social media.

“Truth is, I’ve hit a wall and can’t continue. I need a break. A break from the monotonous daily grind of life on the tour, the suitcases, the results, the pressure, the same faces (sorry, girls), everything that comes with this life.

“There’

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