Russian tennis player Daria Kasatkina spoke of her concern for fans back home in Russia after progressing through the first round at Eastbourne with a confident win. She noted that she still has close ties there—her parents remain in the country—and that recent events have created a troubling atmosphere for people she knows. Kasatkina described the situation as a chaos she personally cannot ignore, emphasizing that the safety and peace of mind of her friends matter just as much as her own on-court focus. The emotional weight of global events often rides along with the travel and competition schedule, and Kasatkina made it clear that her thoughts travel with her off the court as she plays overseas.”
In a robust start ahead of the next round, Kasatkina rolled past Angelina Kalinina, the Ukrainian opponent who sits inside the WTA rankings at 26. The match concluded with Kasatkina taking the two-set victory, 6:3 and 6:1, showcasing a strong and controlled performance from the outset. The encounter lasted one hour and fifteen minutes, a compact contest that highlighted Kasatkina’s adaptability and tactical execution under pressure on the Eastbourne turf.
From a technical perspective, Kasatkina delivered three aces and maintained a steady rhythm throughout the match. She showed patience in constructing points, converting five of seven opportunities on Kalinina’s serve and repeatedly applying pressure at key moments. Kalinina encountered difficulties on serve, recording three double faults and failing to capitalize on any break-point chances, which allowed Kasatkina to seize control of rallies and seal decisive games when it mattered most.
Looking ahead, the second round pits Kasatkina against Karolina Pliskova, the former world number one from the Czech Republic. Pliskova has long been recognized for her serve-and-volley game and poise under pressure, so Kasatkina’s upcoming test will likely hinge on returning well, defending deeply, and continuing to mix up spins and pace to disrupt Pliskova’s timing. This upcoming clash is positioned as a meaningful step in Kasatkina’s preparation for higher-stakes events on the calendar, where every match contributes to momentum and confidence on grass courts.
At the time of the latest WTA ranking update published on June 26, Kasatkina stands as the highest-ranked Russian player. Veronika Kudermetova has moved up one place, rising to 12th in the world rankings, a sign of strong form among Russian competitors and a reminder of the depth in their lineup. The Eastbourne result, combined with the ranking context and the looming grass-court season, underscores Kasatkina’s ongoing importance to the national team’s presence on the tour and signal the kind of resilience that fans have come to expect from her as she navigates both the competitive circuit and the wider geopolitical tensions that fans may feel from afar.