After an impressive performance in Abu Dhabi, Kasatkina experienced an early elimination at the Qatar Open. The talented Russian player, who recently quoted the wisdom of her compatriot following her defeat in the final of the Abu Dhabi Open, suffered a painful loss to Rybakina with a score of 1-6, 4-6 on Sunday.
Kasatkina had a remarkable run in the tournament, including a grueling semifinal victory over a Brazilian opponent that lasted nearly three hours. With her sights set on the title, as her previous WTA final appearance ended in defeat, Kasatkina faced a formidable challenge in the form of Elena Rybakina.
Despite the disappointment of the loss, Kasatkina reflected on the wise words of Daniil Medvedev, who had also experienced defeat in a Grand Slam final. Medvedev had stated that it is better to lose in the final than in the first round. Kasatkina shared similar sentiments, acknowledging the pragmatism of Medvedev’s perspective.
Looking ahead, Kasatkina aims to add to her impressive collection of six ATP singles titles, with her next tournament scheduled to take place at Indian Wells.
Following her strong showing in Abu Dhabi, Kasatkina encountered another setback in the first round of the 2024 Qatar Open. This time, she was defeated by her fellow Russian opponent, Pavlyuchenko, with a score of 6-2, 7-6 (7-2). Pavlyuchenko, who is currently ranked 13th in the women’s ranking, is set to face Ukrainian player in the second round.
Expressing her frustration, Kasatkina voiced concerns about the congested WTA schedule, which leaves little time for players to rest and recover between tournaments. With only 24 hours of rest after her loss in the Abu Dhabi final, Kasatkina had little chance against Pavlyuchenko.
Despite this setback, Kasatkina has shown her potential in major tournaments, with a notable semifinal appearance at the 2022 French Open. She remains determined to continue her pursuit of success in the tennis world.
According to the Source firstsportz.com