Tennis players are playing more often, in more locations around the world than ever before. This “ridiculous” schedule is looming as the sport’s biggest threat.<\/p>\n
“There’s only so much I can deal with and take as an individual woman, all whilst competing with the best female athletes in the world.<\/p>\n
“If this makes me weak, then so be it, I’m weak. However, I know I am strong and will get stronger by being away, recharging, regrouping and reenergising. It’s time I listened to myself for a change, my mind, my heart and my body.”<\/p>\n
Kasatkina opted to switch nationality<\/a> after leaving Russia fearing for her safety having criticised the country’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws<\/a> and the war on Ukraine.<\/p>\n Initially living in Dubai, she moved to Melbourne and became a permanent Australian resident in March.<\/p>\n Kasatkina’s best results in 2025 were fourth rounds at the Australian and French opens. (Getty Images: Elsa)<\/p>\n She subsequently became engaged to long-time girlfriend Natalia Zabiiako, a former Olympic figure skater, who won a silver medal for Russia at the 2018 Winter Olympics, having earlier competed for her native Estonia.<\/p>\n Kasatkina said she had not been able to see her father, who remains in Russia, for four years.<\/p>\n A French Open semifinalist in 2022, Kasatkina has not reached a slam quarterfinal since and finished the last four calendar years ranked in the top 10, but is currently 19th after a modest season in which she won 19 and lost 21 matches.<\/p>\n Kasatkina’s last match was a comprehensive 6-3, 6-0 loss to world number 81 Sonay Kartal at the China Open in Beijing late last month.<\/p>\n Kasatkina is the third leading female player to join “the 2025 tap out club” following Paula Badosa and Elina Svitolina, and there has been a spate of players retiring mid-match recently, with burnout a watch word on both the men’s and women’s tours in 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n “The schedule is too much, mentally and emotionally I am at breaking point and sadly, I am not alone,” she wrote, adding she did not want to appear ungrateful for her “amazing life” as a professional tennis player.<\/p>\n Do you have a story idea about women in sport?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n