World number 11
Daria Kasatkina is hoping to see the ‘very
respectful’ crowds at
Wimbledon 2023.
The 26-year-old is one of the many players who are making
their way back to the third Grand Slam of the year, which will be played from
03-16 July in London, after a one-year ban because of Russia’s war with Ukraine
which started in February 2022 and resulted in the loss of lives on both sides.
The Russian number one revealed happiness about playing once again in the mega-event.
“I have always liked playing in the UK,” she said. “I had
good results here and good memories. I’m really happy to be back and to have
this opportunity again. It feels great because the people here, we can see that
they have got the culture of the game, they know when they have to support,
when it’s the tight moment of the match.
“They are very respectful to the players. People are super
nice to me. I really appreciate the support. The only disturbing fact on the
matches is the popping of the champagne! I’m really happy to be back there.”
The Tolyatti-born, who is drawn up against America’s Caroline
Dolehide in the first round at Wimbledon, has struggled recently while playing
at the Grand Slam.
Kasatkina played in the Wimbledon quarterfinal in 2018 where
she suffered a defeat to eventual champion Germany’s Angelique Kerber with a
score of 6-3, 7-5.
Since then, she has been knocked out from the first and
second rounds respectively in the 2019 and 2021 events.
This year, Kasatkina has had a mixed record where she has
won 20 out of 34 matches and suffered 14 defeats in the process.
Her record while playing on the grass court is not that
impressive where she has a win percentage of 62.5, the second-lowest out of all
the surfaces.