Last Australian Player in Singles Draw Exits
Daria Kasatkina was defeated 6-0, 7-5 by world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the French Open, ending Australia's presence in the singles competition.
Kasatkina became the final Australian among 13 singles contenders to be eliminated before the conclusion of the tournament's first week. Despite a determined effort, Sabalenka's dominance prevailed, setting up a last-16 match against Naomi Osaka.
Alongside notable upsets involving Adam Walton and Kim Birrell, as well as an unexpected comeback by Thanasi Kokkinakis, Kasatkina's return to form after a challenging year was a highlight amid a difficult week for Australian players at Roland Garros.
Kasatkina reached Saturday as the last Australian competitor remaining at the French Open for the second consecutive year, following Alex de Minaur's four-set loss to Jakub Mensik in the third round the previous day.
Facing the four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, Kasatkina, Australia's most prominent tennis import, faced a formidable challenge. Despite her efforts, she was defeated 6-0, 7-5.
On the final day of a seven-day European heatwave, with temperatures expected to drop significantly on Sunday, Kasatkina had vowed to challenge the Belarusian top seed. Sabalenka, holding a 7-2 head-to-head lead, began the match with intense form matching the weather conditions.
Their last encounter at Roland Garros six years prior, when Kasatkina competed as a Russian, ended with Sabalenka winning a set 6-0. She started this match similarly, delivering 16 winners in the first set, which concluded with the same scoreline.
Kasatkina struggled to counter Sabalenka's powerful and precise play on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. However, Sabalenka anticipated a strong contest from the versatile player she described as "amazing." Kasatkina responded in the second set by breaking Sabalenka's serve to take a 2-0 lead.
This advantage was short-lived as Sabalenka quickly regained control. Kasatkina continued to fight, staying competitive throughout the set. At 5-5, she appeared to have an opportunity at 0-30, with her loopy forehand returns creating some difficulty for Sabalenka, last year's finalist.
Sabalenka recovered and benefited from fortunate circumstances at the start of the decisive game. A net cord dropped over the net, and Kasatkina double-faulted, allowing Sabalenka to secure the match with her 37th winner.
The match lasted 76 minutes and marked Sabalenka's 100th victory as world No 1, advancing her to a high-profile encounter with Naomi Osaka.
