“I don’t know if there will be more, these are confidential matters”: Daria Kasatkina opens up on Russian players switching countries after tough Brisbane exit

Daria Kasatkina continues struggling at the start of 2026, following a first-round defeat at the Brisbane International. The Russian-born player fell in her debut against Anastasia Potapova 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. This was also her first match in Australia since changing her citizenship.

"It was very emotional. It was tough, but at the same time, I was super nervous, but also very excited to go,” she said in press conference about her first match on Australian soil. “There was a mix of everything. The crowd was great, and honestly, I felt all the support. I tried my best today, but it wasn't enough. Also, I faced a tough opponent. I think she played very well today.”

The Russian player admitted that the emotions got to her from the very beginning: “Honestly, when I was stepping on court with all the cheering and everything, I almost started crying, but I was able to hold it,” the former world No. 8 added. “Honestly, I wanted to win so much and feel this extra energy by the end of the match, but unfortunately it didn't happen. I've been through a tough year, so now I'm fine, but still, I have to climb out of this hole. It's never easy. I've faced these kinds of challenges a couple of times in my career. It's a tough task, but it has to be done.”

Kasatkina’s struggles were visible in her performance, with a total of 16 double faults throughout the match, in addition to conceding 15 break points to Potapova — of which the Russian opponent only needed to convert five to claim the victory.

Kasatkina dropped from finishing 2024 inside the top-10 to ending the season at No. 37. She is now expected to fall further toward No. 40, and with a significant number of points to defend during the Australian swing, she could drop out of the top-60 in the coming weeks.

"Last year was too much for me, in many aspects of life and also on the court. Of course, I know that nobody pressures me,” the fomer Indian Wells urnner-up added. “I put the pressure on myself because I want to prove myself, I want to represent Australia, prove it with results. When it doesn't happen, I feel bad. Although I know no one expects me to, I expect it from myself, I want to return the favor to the country.

“I'm the one putting this weight on my shoulders because I'm getting to know the Australian mentality and more, and I know that people here support me simply because they want to. They don't expect you to win a Grand Slam tomorrow, but it's also just my way of being. It puts a lot of pressure on me, but that's how I was raised and how I played throughout my career. I have to carry this weight and try to give my best."

Another topic the 28-year-old addressed was the recent nationality changes among several Russian players. Kasatkina announced her new Australian citizenship at the start of the year, but several other names have followed a similar path in recent months, including Elina Avanesyan (Armenia), Kamila Rakhimova, Maria Timofeeva, and Polina Kudermetova (Uzbekistan), as well as Potapova (Austria).

"We see that many Russians have changed. By the end of the year, there were already three or four girls who had done it,” Kasatkina said during the press conference. “Obviously, each had their reasons. We see everything that's happening. Honestly, I don't know if there will be more because everyone keeps these things secret until the last moment. I honestly don't know, there have been many who changed. So maybe yes, maybe no. As I said, these are confidential matters, and I don't know anything about gossip."