Daria Kasatkina has rebounded from the burnout that affected fellow Australian Alex de Minaur, rediscovering her spark at what she calls her “spiritual” home — Roland-Garros.
On the iconic Simonne Mathieu court, surrounded by lush greenery, the 17th seed found new life in her game, defeating former world No.2 Paula Badosa 6-1, 7-5 in humid conditions. The victory marked a resurgence for Kasatkina and ensured, for the first time since 1988, that Australia will have players in both the men’s and women’s fourth rounds of the French Open.
Back then, Nicole Provis (a semifinalist) and Pat Cash reached the tournament’s second week. Now it’s Kasatkina and Alexei Popyrin carrying the flag. Popyrin will face American Tommy Paul on Sunday night (7pm AEST) for a place in the quarterfinals.
On Monday, Kasatkina will take on her 18-year-old friend and fellow Russian Mirra Andreeva, who is also based in France. The two recently shared an ice bath after their wins, celebrating their progress together.
For Kasatkina, who’s playing her first Grand Slam as an Australian resident, this run has lifted a weight after a difficult stretch marked by poor form and mental fatigue.
“It’s a really important win,” said the 28-year-old. “The last few weeks have been rough. I couldn’t find my rhythm, felt emotionally flat. There were signs of burnout. So, I’m very happy to be back on track — especially here at Roland-Garros, one of my favourite events.”
Kasatkina echoed de Minaur’s concerns about the demanding tour schedule.
“I agree with Alex. Our calendar is packed — sometimes too much. It’s not unusual to feel exhausted. Even when you love your job, there are days you just want a break. We’re fortunate, of course, but constant travel and effort can wear you down. Rest is essential.”
On court, she was sharp, winning eight of the first nine games against a shaky Badosa before holding off a comeback in a tense second set. Despite a crowd that favoured her opponent, Kasatkina earned a standing ovation for a performance built on defensive mastery and tactical intelligence, forcing Badosa into 41 unforced errors.
The Russian-Australian has long had a connection with Roland-Garros, where she won the girls’ title in 2014, reached the quarterfinals in 2018, and made the semifinals in 2022.
“These courts are amazing. I know every corner of the stadium,” she smiled. “It’s my 10th professional Roland-Garros, and it always feels special. I don’t know why — maybe it’s something spiritual — but I always feel at home here.”
Popyrin Keeps Focus Ahead of Tommy Paul Clash
Alexei Popyrin is hoping the lessons from his past Grand Slam experiences, especially his 2023 US Open win over Novak Djokovic, will help him push into his first major quarterfinal.
But the Sydneysider isn’t underestimating his opponent. Despite Tommy Paul enduring two consecutive five-set battles, Popyrin sees the American as one of the most physically resilient players on tour.
At last year’s US Open, Popyrin pulled off a career-best win against Djokovic but was unable to maintain momentum, falling to Frances Tiafoe in the next round. This time, he says, he’s more prepared.
“I know what to expect in a fourth round now,” the 25-year-old said. “After beating Novak, the emotional and physical toll hit me hard. But I’ve learned from that.”
This time around, Popyrin has reached the fourth round in just over seven hours — saving more than three and a half hours on court compared to Paul, who has logged 10 hours and 45 minutes over 14 sets.
Still, he’s not reading too much into the numbers.
“Tommy’s incredibly fit. He trains hard, and he recovers well. I expect him to come out fresh. I can’t focus on how much tennis he’s played — I need to stay locked in on my own performance and keep my consistency.”
With confidence and experience on his side, Popyrin hopes this will be the breakthrough moment he’s been building toward.
