Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Australian women’s No.1 Daria Kasatkina will forever share the same anniversary date as Alex de Minaur.
But while equally as content as de Minaur, Kasatkina doesn’t quite share the same US Open ambitions as the Australian men’s No.1.
“Well, expectations are not very high, you know. I mean, the draw is tough,” Kasatkina told AAP ahead of her first-round clash with one-time world No.2 Paula Badosa on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).
“It’s going to be a very tough match, a very tough tournament, and also it’s the last slam of the year. Everyone is trying to squeeze as much as they can.
“So it’s just go out there and let’s see how we’re going to both play and that’s pretty much it. I’m going to take it simple this time.”
Kasatkina is normally anything but simple.
One of the most charismatic and complex personalities on tour, the 29-year-old took a mental health break from tennis at the end of last season, complaining of being at “breaking point”.
She was worn out not only from the sport’s relentless grind, but also after switching allegiances to Australia after being unable to return to her homeland because of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
But much has changed, for the better, since Kasatkina married former Olympic figure skater Natalia Zabiiako on Wimbledon finals day in July.
While de Minaur was tying the knot with English tennis starlet Katie Boulter in Tuscany, Kasatkina was exchanging vows with Zabiiako in Greece.
Asked how married life was treating her, Kasatkina said: “Sooo good.
“Honestly, like, very, very good. Touch the wood because it’s been little more than a month, month and a half, but we’re going strong, we’re enjoying it.
“Especially the wedding, it was incredible, we had so much fun, it was a great time.
“We spent the best couple of days with our friends and family, which normally almost never happens because if we see each other it’s normally like with two, three people maximum. It really filled my emotional tank.”
The former world No.8 will need to showcase all her class to go deep in New York. Even if she gets past Badosa, Kasatkina will run into fourth-seeded 2023 Open champion Coco Gauff or Zeynep Sonmez, the Turk who beat her last-up in Cincinnati.
But at least she feels ready.
“I feel physically and mentally refreshed,” she said.
“I recharged after Wimbledon. Got married and, yeah, so that emotional tank is still pretty full.
“It was the whole emotional spectrum. You never know if it’s going to help your tennis, but it definitely can help especially emotionally.
“The happier you are in life, for sure, the better it is for you on court, no other way around.”
