Daria Kasatkina has experienced a significant setback in her tennis career following her first-round exit at the Madrid Open. The Australian player lost to Ukrainian qualifier Daria Snigur with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (15-13), marking a painful defeat that will see her drop to her lowest world ranking in 11 years.
Match Details
The match lasted two hours and 23 minutes, during which Kasatkina had four match points but was unable to convert any of them. She also faced six match points against her before ultimately losing the longest regular third-set tiebreak in WTA events for eight years. This defeat leaves her with a season record of four wins and eight losses.
Ranking Impact
As a result of this loss, Kasatkina will fall from her previous ranking of No. 12, which she held last April, to No. 83 in the upcoming rankings. This drop will also see her position as the fifth-ranked Australian player.
Context of the Defeat
Kasatkina’s performance has been under scrutiny since she transferred her allegiance to Australian tennis a year ago. The 28-year-old has faced challenges, including a hip injury that sidelined her for two months during the 2026 season. Despite her return to the court, she has struggled to regain her form, culminating in this latest defeat.
In addition to Kasatkina’s exit, all four Australian women competing at the Madrid Open were eliminated in the first round. Talia Gibson lost to Emiliana Arango, Ajla Tomljanovic was defeated by a Hungarian player, and Kim Birrell also succumbed to Hungarian opposition.
As the tournament progresses, attention will shift to the Australian men, including Alex de Minaur, Alexei Popyrin, and Adam Walton, who are set to compete in the main draw.
Source: Original report