Daria Kasatkina shared her experience of a “little accident” right before her Wimbledon debut on Tuesday night (AEST). She successfully overcame her pre-tournament struggles and managed to defeat Colombia’s Emiliana Arango in straight sets, winning 7-5, 6-3 in just over an hour and a half.
The pressure of competing in a Grand Slam had Kasatkina feeling unusually anxious, leading to a bout of nausea just moments before entering Court 14. “Nothing serious, just pure nerves,” she explained, adding that this level of anxiety was beyond what she usually experiences. This unsettling moment included her vomiting in a corner just before stepping onto the court, which she described as a new and surprising episode in her career.
Despite these nerves, Kasatkina triumphed in her match, exclaiming that winning was a significant relief. “I don’t know if you noticed, but after the match, I shrugged off a kind of backpack with stones,” she reflected on the burden that disappeared with the victory. Following the match, she felt physically better, noting that the initial dizziness subsided as she found her groove on the court.
Kasatkina, who recently acquired Australian residency, will next face Romanian player Irina-Camelia Begu in the second round on Thursday. As the lone Australian woman remaining in the tournament, she hopes to build on this momentum. Despite the unfortunate incident, she found a way to relate to other athletes: “I heard that Lionel Messi actually had this thing, like he was vomiting sometimes before important matches. So, now I can relate to this,” she said, seeking perspective in her experience.
With this match marking her first win on grass this season and ending a four-match losing streak, Kasatkina expressed satisfaction with her performance and resilience in the face of pressure.