‘Aussie Sensation Shocks World No. 10 at Roland-Garros: “I’m Truly Proud of My Achievement”‘

Representing Australia is proving to be a positive change for Daria Kasatkina.

The 17th seed made a significant impact in the round of 16 at Roland-Garros, pulling off a surprising 6-1, 7-5 victory against 10th seed Paula Badosa on Saturday.

Having switched her allegiance from Russia to Australia this year, this marks Kasatkina’s debut grand slam tournament competing for her new nation.

The 28-year-old will next face former fellow countrywoman Mirra Andreeva, the world No.6 teenage sensation who dominated Yulia Putintseva with a score of 6-3, 6-1 in the previous round.

Kasatkina has expressed that she feels right at home on the clay courts of Paris, having reached the semi-finals here in 2022.

“She’s a top 10 player and an incredible competitor,” Kasatkina remarked about Badosa following her remarkable straight-sets victory.

“She has been showcasing impressive results, so I was prepared for a tough match,” Kasatkina added.

“I knew that the moment she got an opportunity, she would capitalise on it immediately. That was evident in the second set, where things tightened up a bit.”

“I’m quite proud of how I managed the situation.”

“Truthfully, the last few weeks haven’t been great for me, so I’m genuinely pleased to return to this special tournament. I’m feeling much better and it’s always a great honour to compete here.”

“I absolutely love Roland-Garros; the crowd is fantastic, so vibrant. I feel immensely grateful.”

Former Australian star Jelena Dokic mentioned that Kasatkina has the ability to cause another upset but emphasised the importance of taking risks against Andreeva.

“With Kasatkina, it’s essential for her to push forward,” she remarked during Nine’s coverage. “Sometimes when she feels the pressure, she tends to play it safe instead of going for the win.”

“In the next round and further along in a Grand Slam, you really need to take the initiative.”

Kasatkina holds a victory over Andreeva from their only previous encounter—a 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 at the Ningbo Open in China last year.