She changed her flag and felt everything at once, Kasatkina admits she almost cried on court
A new beginning that felt heavier than expected
Daria Kasatkina walked onto the court in Brisbane carrying more than the usual expectations of an early season tennis match. Representing Australia for the first time after switching national allegiance, the 28 year old described a moment that felt emotionally different from anything she had experienced before.
According to AFP, Kasatkina said the support she felt from the stands caught her off guard and almost brought her to tears as the match began.
“When I stepped onto the court with all that encouragement around me, I almost started to cry,” she told reporters. Kasatkina has previously spoken openly about her sexuality and her opposition to the war in Ukraine, positions that led her to distance herself from Russia.
Emotion met reality in Brisbane
The match itself did not end the way Kasatkina had hoped. She was beaten in three sets on Sunday in the first round of the Brisbane tournament, falling to Anastasia Potapova, a Russian born player who has represented Austria since the start of this season.
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Kasatkina acknowledged that the desire to succeed under her new flag added another layer of pressure. “I wanted to win so badly,” she said. “I felt an extra surge of energy at the end of the match, but unfortunately it was not enough.”
Rebuilding after a season on pause
The Brisbane loss came as Kasatkina continues her attempt to stabilize her career following a disrupted 2025 season. Once ranked as high as number eight in the world, she is currently ranked 40 after stepping away from competition last year.
According to Agerpres, Kasatkina said that break was necessary after reaching a point of deep mental and emotional exhaustion. Speaking again on Sunday, she reflected on the challenges of the past year.
“I went through a very hard period,” she said. “I am doing better now, but I still need to climb out of the situation I was in.”
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Playing for Australia and a sense of responsibility
Beyond form and fitness, Kasatkina said her decision to represent Australia comes with a personal sense of responsibility. She explained that she feels motivated to give something back to the country that welcomed her, even if expectations from others remain modest.
“I know nobody is demanding results from me,” she said, “but I want to contribute in some way.”
Kasatkina has won eight WTA titles during her career and says the adjustment to a new sporting identity is still ongoing. For now, she remains focused on rebuilding confidence and finding consistency as the season unfolds.
Sources: AFP, Ziare.com, Agerpres
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