Aussie title contender Daria Kasatkina makes emotional admission after French Open win
Daria Kasatkina has overcome the same feeling of burn-out that sank her fellow Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur at the French Open and now feels rejuvenated by reaching the fourth round at her 'spiritual' tennis home at Roland Garros.
On the venue's famed Simonne Mathieu 'greenhouse court', Australia's newest tennis recruit Kasatkina was left thrilled how her stagnant game suddenly bloomed in humid conditions on Saturday at her favourite slam with a 6-1 7-5 defeat of former world No.2 Paula Badosa.
Kasatkina's victory on the sunken court at Serres d'Auteuil botanical garden, surrounded by its glass hothouses, conjured up the rare but sweet smell of Paris success for her adopted home: for the first time in 37 years, there'll now be an Aussie in both the men's and women's last-16 draws in the same year.
In 1988, Nicole Provis, who went on to reach the semis, and Pat Cash both made the second week. Now the onus is on Kasatkina and Alexei Popyrin, who plays his fourth-round match against Tommy Paul on Sunday.
On Monday, Kasatkina will face the game's young whizzkid Mirra Andreeva, her 18-year-old French-based Russian friend who was trouncing Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva 6-3 6-1 on Court Suzanne Lenglen at the same time.
The vlogging pals ended up sharing an ice bath after their early showcourt progress, and Kasatkina, in her first slam under the Australian flag, sounded as if a weight had been lifted from her following a tough spell when her form and motivation slumped.
Echoing the lament of de Minaur, who said he was burnt out and mentally fatigued after his shock second-round loss, Kasatkina admitted it felt like a 'super important' win for her.
'It means a lot especially the last couple of weeks were a bit rough for me. I couldn't find myself on court, I felt a little bit flat, like with emotions and stuff,' said the 28-year-old, whose form hasn't been great since she gained permanent Australian residency two months ago.
'I felt little signs of burn-out or something like that. I'm really happy I got back on track here in Roland Garros, one of my favourite tournaments.'
Of de Minaur's complaints about the overcrowded schedule, she added: 'I agree with Alex, because our schedule is pretty rough.'
'We have a completely packed schedule,' Kasatkina said.
'It's not normal, but it can happen that the person who is travelling all around the world all the time giving their best, living the life of tennis player, sometimes can feel he's tired, that sometimes you are just not super excited to go on court.
'I mean, this can happen. This is our job but I think everyone can relate that sometimes you don't want to wake up to go to your job.
'Yeah, we are super lucky at having this opportunity to do what we love and get paid for it and travel around the world. It's a nice life, but sometimes when you give everything to something, you feel tired and you need some rest.'
But the 17th seed reckoned she felt much better on court, dominating the first set against an out-of-sorts world No.10 Badosa before having to dig deep when the Spaniard, with more firepower but little of Kasatkina's all-court guile and superb defence, dragged her into a 'tense' second-set scrap.
This triumph, still greeted by a standing ovation from the largely pro-Badosa crowd, was comfortably Kasatkina's best since her allegiance switch as she powered out to win eight of the first nine games, then nullified Badosa's biggest weapons, frustrating her into many of her 41 'unforced' errors.
Kasatkina smiled about how she gets transformed when returning to Roland Garros where she was a semi-finalist in 2022, quarter-finalist in 2018 and the girls' champion in 2014.
'The courts, amazing, super-good quality, the atmosphere. I won here as a junior. When this happens, it just stays forever in you and automatically the place becomes special.
'It's my 10th professional Roland Garros, every time I'm coming here, I feel comfortable. I know every corner of the stadium. I don't know how it works, honestly, on a spiritual level, but somehow this place, it's been always nice to me.'
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Kasatkina even earned a set point to level the match after rallying in gritty fashion but world No.6 Andreeva showed steely resolve to the win after a compelling 94-minute duel. Defeat for Kasatkina meant the end of the green-and-gold singles challenge, but she could pride herself on having been the 'last Aussie standing' among the 16 starters in the draw. "It was a hell of a match. I'm super happy I stayed calm in the second set when she raised her level. Honestly, I'm so happy I won. I hate playing against her, we practise a lot and even that is a torture," Andreeva said after the pals hugged at the net. "My coach (Conchita Martinez) says you've got to practise with the people you don't like. That's why I practise with her because I hate her!" she added with a big smile. A tactical affair between two mates with terrific all-court games - Andreeva comes over like a younger, more power-laden version of Kasatkina - broke out on Roland Garros's second biggest arena as the Aussie comfortably held her own at the start. She even looked set to strike first in the seventh game, carving out two break points as Andreeva got a mite impatient. But the youngster is as tough as she's gifted. She held serve then induced five errors from the Australian in the next game to annex the key break. Under increasing pressure from the depth and accuracy of the teen's laser groundstrokes, Kasatkina scooped a backhand long to gift the first set in 40 minutes. Her problems were immediately compounded when Andreeva pulled off a lovely move at the start of the second set, a neat drop shot followed by a lofted winning pass that sealed an immediate break. Kasatkina had promised she was ready to "die on court" and she looked absolutely spent after prevailing in one remarkable 26-shot rally. And that utter determination started to gnaw away at Andreeva as the Aussie reeled off four games in a row from 3-1 down to serve for the set. But Andreeva immediately counter-attacked to break back, then battled to hold after Kasatkina earned a set point on the youngster's delivery at 5-4, only to be deprived by a powerful forehand. Once back level, Andreeva began to dictate. One piece of amazing defensive retrieving also induced a dismal Kasatkina smash into the net, and enabled her to break to love. She then sealed the deal on her second match point with Kasatkina hitting a forehand long. Andreeva has now reached the quarters without dropping a set and she's the youngest to achieve back-to-back last-eight appearances since Martina Hingis 27 years ago. Daria Kasatkina's first grand slam dance as an adopted Australian is over, ended at the French Open by her teen phenomenon friend Mirra Andreeva. Two months since being granted permanent residency, Kasatkina's hopes of becoming the first Australian woman to reach the quarter-finals since Ash Barty's triumphant year of 2019 finally unravelled 6-3 7-5 at the hands of her exceptional 18-year-old fellow Russian-born buddy. The only other time the pair had played, in the final of last October's Ningbo Open in China, Andreeva had ended in tears and needed to be comforted by Kasatkina after blowing a 3-0 lead in the final set. On Monday lunchtime, though, the French-based teen who's rocketed to No.6 in the world didn't let Kasatkina, 10 years her senior, off the hook on Court Suzanne Lenglen despite another nervy blip. Kasatkina even earned a set point to level the match after rallying in gritty fashion but world No.6 Andreeva showed steely resolve to the win after a compelling 94-minute duel. Defeat for Kasatkina meant the end of the green-and-gold singles challenge, but she could pride herself on having been the 'last Aussie standing' among the 16 starters in the draw. "It was a hell of a match. I'm super happy I stayed calm in the second set when she raised her level. Honestly, I'm so happy I won. I hate playing against her, we practise a lot and even that is a torture," Andreeva said after the pals hugged at the net. "My coach (Conchita Martinez) says you've got to practise with the people you don't like. That's why I practise with her because I hate her!" she added with a big smile. A tactical affair between two mates with terrific all-court games - Andreeva comes over like a younger, more power-laden version of Kasatkina - broke out on Roland Garros's second biggest arena as the Aussie comfortably held her own at the start. She even looked set to strike first in the seventh game, carving out two break points as Andreeva got a mite impatient. But the youngster is as tough as she's gifted. She held serve then induced five errors from the Australian in the next game to annex the key break. Under increasing pressure from the depth and accuracy of the teen's laser groundstrokes, Kasatkina scooped a backhand long to gift the first set in 40 minutes. Her problems were immediately compounded when Andreeva pulled off a lovely move at the start of the second set, a neat drop shot followed by a lofted winning pass that sealed an immediate break. Kasatkina had promised she was ready to "die on court" and she looked absolutely spent after prevailing in one remarkable 26-shot rally. And that utter determination started to gnaw away at Andreeva as the Aussie reeled off four games in a row from 3-1 down to serve for the set. But Andreeva immediately counter-attacked to break back, then battled to hold after Kasatkina earned a set point on the youngster's delivery at 5-4, only to be deprived by a powerful forehand. Once back level, Andreeva began to dictate. One piece of amazing defensive retrieving also induced a dismal Kasatkina smash into the net, and enabled her to break to love. She then sealed the deal on her second match point with Kasatkina hitting a forehand long. Andreeva has now reached the quarters without dropping a set and she's the youngest to achieve back-to-back last-eight appearances since Martina Hingis 27 years ago. Daria Kasatkina's first grand slam dance as an adopted Australian is over, ended at the French Open by her teen phenomenon friend Mirra Andreeva. Two months since being granted permanent residency, Kasatkina's hopes of becoming the first Australian woman to reach the quarter-finals since Ash Barty's triumphant year of 2019 finally unravelled 6-3 7-5 at the hands of her exceptional 18-year-old fellow Russian-born buddy. The only other time the pair had played, in the final of last October's Ningbo Open in China, Andreeva had ended in tears and needed to be comforted by Kasatkina after blowing a 3-0 lead in the final set. On Monday lunchtime, though, the French-based teen who's rocketed to No.6 in the world didn't let Kasatkina, 10 years her senior, off the hook on Court Suzanne Lenglen despite another nervy blip. Kasatkina even earned a set point to level the match after rallying in gritty fashion but world No.6 Andreeva showed steely resolve to the win after a compelling 94-minute duel. Defeat for Kasatkina meant the end of the green-and-gold singles challenge, but she could pride herself on having been the 'last Aussie standing' among the 16 starters in the draw. "It was a hell of a match. I'm super happy I stayed calm in the second set when she raised her level. Honestly, I'm so happy I won. I hate playing against her, we practise a lot and even that is a torture," Andreeva said after the pals hugged at the net. "My coach (Conchita Martinez) says you've got to practise with the people you don't like. That's why I practise with her because I hate her!" she added with a big smile. A tactical affair between two mates with terrific all-court games - Andreeva comes over like a younger, more power-laden version of Kasatkina - broke out on Roland Garros's second biggest arena as the Aussie comfortably held her own at the start. She even looked set to strike first in the seventh game, carving out two break points as Andreeva got a mite impatient. But the youngster is as tough as she's gifted. She held serve then induced five errors from the Australian in the next game to annex the key break. Under increasing pressure from the depth and accuracy of the teen's laser groundstrokes, Kasatkina scooped a backhand long to gift the first set in 40 minutes. Her problems were immediately compounded when Andreeva pulled off a lovely move at the start of the second set, a neat drop shot followed by a lofted winning pass that sealed an immediate break. Kasatkina had promised she was ready to "die on court" and she looked absolutely spent after prevailing in one remarkable 26-shot rally. And that utter determination started to gnaw away at Andreeva as the Aussie reeled off four games in a row from 3-1 down to serve for the set. But Andreeva immediately counter-attacked to break back, then battled to hold after Kasatkina earned a set point on the youngster's delivery at 5-4, only to be deprived by a powerful forehand. Once back level, Andreeva began to dictate. One piece of amazing defensive retrieving also induced a dismal Kasatkina smash into the net, and enabled her to break to love. She then sealed the deal on her second match point with Kasatkina hitting a forehand long. Andreeva has now reached the quarters without dropping a set and she's the youngest to achieve back-to-back last-eight appearances since Martina Hingis 27 years ago. Daria Kasatkina's first grand slam dance as an adopted Australian is over, ended at the French Open by her teen phenomenon friend Mirra Andreeva. Two months since being granted permanent residency, Kasatkina's hopes of becoming the first Australian woman to reach the quarter-finals since Ash Barty's triumphant year of 2019 finally unravelled 6-3 7-5 at the hands of her exceptional 18-year-old fellow Russian-born buddy. The only other time the pair had played, in the final of last October's Ningbo Open in China, Andreeva had ended in tears and needed to be comforted by Kasatkina after blowing a 3-0 lead in the final set. On Monday lunchtime, though, the French-based teen who's rocketed to No.6 in the world didn't let Kasatkina, 10 years her senior, off the hook on Court Suzanne Lenglen despite another nervy blip. Kasatkina even earned a set point to level the match after rallying in gritty fashion but world No.6 Andreeva showed steely resolve to the win after a compelling 94-minute duel. Defeat for Kasatkina meant the end of the green-and-gold singles challenge, but she could pride herself on having been the 'last Aussie standing' among the 16 starters in the draw. "It was a hell of a match. I'm super happy I stayed calm in the second set when she raised her level. Honestly, I'm so happy I won. I hate playing against her, we practise a lot and even that is a torture," Andreeva said after the pals hugged at the net. "My coach (Conchita Martinez) says you've got to practise with the people you don't like. That's why I practise with her because I hate her!" she added with a big smile. A tactical affair between two mates with terrific all-court games - Andreeva comes over like a younger, more power-laden version of Kasatkina - broke out on Roland Garros's second biggest arena as the Aussie comfortably held her own at the start. She even looked set to strike first in the seventh game, carving out two break points as Andreeva got a mite impatient. But the youngster is as tough as she's gifted. She held serve then induced five errors from the Australian in the next game to annex the key break. Under increasing pressure from the depth and accuracy of the teen's laser groundstrokes, Kasatkina scooped a backhand long to gift the first set in 40 minutes. Her problems were immediately compounded when Andreeva pulled off a lovely move at the start of the second set, a neat drop shot followed by a lofted winning pass that sealed an immediate break. Kasatkina had promised she was ready to "die on court" and she looked absolutely spent after prevailing in one remarkable 26-shot rally. And that utter determination started to gnaw away at Andreeva as the Aussie reeled off four games in a row from 3-1 down to serve for the set. But Andreeva immediately counter-attacked to break back, then battled to hold after Kasatkina earned a set point on the youngster's delivery at 5-4, only to be deprived by a powerful forehand. Once back level, Andreeva began to dictate. One piece of amazing defensive retrieving also induced a dismal Kasatkina smash into the net, and enabled her to break to love. She then sealed the deal on her second match point with Kasatkina hitting a forehand long. Andreeva has now reached the quarters without dropping a set and she's the youngest to achieve back-to-back last-eight appearances since Martina Hingis 27 years ago.
