Daria Kasatkina, the No. 17 seed, expressed a sense of ease as she played in her inaugural Grand Slam as an Australian, triumphed over French wildcard Leolia Jeanjean with a score of 6-4, 6-2. The match, which lasted one hour and 39 minutes, showcased Kasatkina’s dominance, highlighted by her impressive 24 winners throughout the contest.
At 28 years old, Kasatkina has already made a name for herself, having previously reached the semi-finals at Roland-Garros in 2022. This victory marks her progression to the third round of a Grand Slam for the seventh time in her career.
In a recent interview with Stan Sport, Kasatkina candidly reflected on her playing style, acknowledging that her physique isn’t as robust as some of her opponents. “I have to win with something else. It has to be my brain or my legs or whatever,” she remarked. Her unique approach to the game often leads to unpredictable shot-making that keeps her opponents guessing, as she admitted, “Sometimes I come up with some unusual stuff on court.”
Since officially representing Australia after switching national flags at Charleston in March, Roland-Garros has been her fifth tournament under the Australian banner. Kasatkina has received warmth from the crowd, noting how supporters cheer her on by saying “let’s go Aussie.” She expressed gratitude for the positive reaction she’s gleaned from social media, where fans welcome her to Australia and share their support, which she finds immensely meaningful.
Reflecting on her journey, Kasatkina recalled her disbelief at being able to identify as Australian. “You never know where life will bring you,” she said, highlighting her transition and the emotions surrounding it. As she prepares for her third-round match against No.10 seed Paula Badosa, Kasatkina remains committed to her craft and optimistic about her journey in the tournament.