On the verge of tears, 16 double faults: Why Australia’s new tennis star is feeling the pressure

2 days ago 8

Brisbane: Daria Kasatkina almost burst into happy tears as she walked on court for her first match as a local on Australian soil on Sunday before a hailstorm of double faults contributed to her exiting the Brisbane International.

Kasatkina spoke on tournament eve about her extra motivation and nerves, but could not convert a 4-2 start into a win over another ex-Russian, Anastasia Potapova, who prevailed 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 in a seesawing contest lasting more than 2 ½ hours.

The former world No.8, who committed 16 double faults, admitted post-match she wanted to pay back her adopted country and was placing significant pressure on herself to perform well because of that.

Kasatkina’s heartfelt admission followed her ending last season prematurely in late September as the toll of a tumultuous year became too much, including her switch of allegiances to Australia six months earlier.

She said she was now fine after her six-week hiatus from tennis, but first had to dig herself out of a “deep hole”.

Kasatkina made the move after a secret meeting with Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley during last year’s Australian Open, and following a turbulent relationship with her birth country for years before that about her being gay and the ongoing war with Ukraine.

“The last year has been too much for me in many aspects of life, and on court as well. I know that nobody is putting this pressure on me [other than myself],” Kasatkina said.

“I want to represent Australia, and show the results and everything. Of course, when it’s not happening, I feel bad. I know that nobody is expecting me to do so – I’m expecting myself. I want to pay back to the country.

“It’s tough, but all I can do is work hard, go out there, do the best I can, give everything on court ... there’s always one winner, one loser, and every week is basically the same thing. But I want to do my best for the country.”

Potapova revealed last month that she would no longer represent Russia and was instead changing to Austria, continuing a trend of players defecting from that country, following Kasatkina (Australia), Kamilla Rakhimova and Maria Timofeeva (both Uzbekistan).

Kasatkina and Potapova shared a warm handshake after the match.

“Obviously, everyone’s got their reasons. I mean, we see everything that’s going on,” Kasatkina said.

“I honestly don’t know if there are more coming or not because everyone keeps these things as a secret until the last moment. There have already been a lot of girls who switched. So, maybe yes, maybe not.”

Tournament organisers handed Kasatkina the opening match on Pat Rafter Arena, and the Brisbane crowd gave her a rousing welcome as she entered, which is why her emotions almost spilled over.

She has spoken several times in the months after her defection how she was adjusting to that newfound support.

That backing only increased as Kasatkina’s match reached its climax, including a huge roar from the crowd after she broke back in the ninth game of the final set, then again as she walked out to serve. However, an elementary forehand miss left Kasatkina in a 0-40 hole, and the match was over a point later.

The 28-year-old was left to rue her many double faults, which often came at crucial stages, including three in the second game of the third set that put her on the back foot.

“If you’re struggling with this, it makes your game a nightmare sometimes, but I’ve been working for a long, long time. It’s always mental,” she said.

“Even though I did 16 double faults, they were not like the double faults I did last year, when sometimes you’re just hitting the beginning of the net. I mean, those double faults [today], were not too bad.

“They say you get one shot from God, and all other shots you have to work on. So, yeah, my serve has definitely not come from God.”

Another naturalised Australian, Croatian-born Ajla Tomljanovic, cruised past Frenchwoman Elsa Jacquemot 6-1, 6-3 to set up a tough second-round clash with 11th-seeded Czech star Karolina Muchova.

“I’m very happy, especially [because] it’s been a while since I’ve been in Brissy playing,” Tomljanovic said.

“I love that I have so many memories here, and it’s one of my favourite places to do well, so to get a ‘W’ in the first match of the year is always special, and I’d love to have a great summer in Australia.”