Kasatkina: I’m worried for the people I love – I can’t see the end of the war yet

Daria Kasatkina has spoken about her fear for her friends after the attempted martial coup in Russia last week.

Playing in Eastbourne ahead of Wimbledon fortnight, the Russian has been one of the most vocal on tour in condemning the invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war – which has come very close to her loved ones.

She revealed that her best friends live in Voronezh, the city effectively placed under martial law in recent days.

“Of course I’m worried. I’m worried for my friends, because my best friends, they actually live in Voronezh,” Kasatkina told reporters.

“So I was pretty worried about that, because they were very scared. So was I, because I couldn’t do anything except like to offer them to go to my city, because it’s more far [further away], so was not involved in the situation.

Read also

Eastbourne International: Kasatkina eases to victory over Kalinina, moves into last 16

Tennis Majors

“Obviously their experience, Ukrainians, they are experiencing way worse situation, but also, I can feel the same. I’m very worried for the people I love.

“Yeah, it is what it is. Unfortunately we have to live in this scenario now. This is the part of our lives. Yeah, it’s been a tough year, and we don’t know how long it’s going to be.

“We have to just follow the news. Honestly, so far I don’t see the end. We have to just accept.”

Kasatkina: When I’m on the court, I’m not thinking about it

She added that she found that tennis helped to distract her from the news, which she continues to consume avidly.

“When I’m on the court, I’m not thinking about it. When I’m on the court, I am in the different state of mind, which actually helps me to turn off from all this, because since the beginning of the war, I was actually following everything every day. It’s a lot.

“So I was overwhelmed in some moment, and I’m just trying to turn off my head at least on the tennis court. It help me a lot.

“Also the people around me, they are trying to make the atmosphere normal, because as I said, it’s been a tough year for most of us.”

You might also like this

“She’s got the level” – Kasatkina sees a big future for her young compatriot Mirra Andreeva

tennis majors

‘We’re not going to shake hands with them, it doesn’t matter what tournament it is’ – Ukraine’s Yastremska on handshake controversy

tennis majors