ROLAND GARROS

June 2, 2025

Daria Kasatkina

Press Conference

M. ANDREEVA/D. Kasatkina

6-3, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Dasha, bad luck today. Tough battle. What do you think made the difference out there?

DARIA KASATKINA: Well, yeah, it was a very tough match. I mean, I had quite a few chances in the second set, also in the first set.

Just, you know, when you play someone like a top player like Mirra, everything comes into details. There's nothing, like, particular that I can tell you, but just, you know, those few important points, we were battling hard.

So, I mean, that happens. It's a game, but overall, I'm pretty happy about how I spent this week here at Roland Garros.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Dasha, you said yesterday that you would die out there on the court, run for your life. Are we now allowed to officially call you an Aussie battler?

DARIA KASATKINA: If you want so. Yeah, well, I think we were battling pretty hard today with Mirra. We were having some longer rallies, important points. I think, actually, she was running even more than me for some of the moments of the match.

Yeah, as I said, it came into the details. Yeah, overall I think it was a very good match.

Q. Mirra just said it's really difficult playing you. You practice a lot together. She says she knows your game; you know her game. What is that challenge like?

DARIA KASATKINA: Well, yes, maybe we know each other too good. Maybe we have to take a break in practicing (laughing). No, I'm kidding.

This is how it works on the tour. As soon as someone new comes, you played a few matches together, you practice together, and then everyone knows each other. So it's how it is. This is how our circuit is working, so everyone knows each other.

Somehow you just need to come to every match and try to surprise your opponent or try to do something better than you did before. This is something interesting, I think, about tennis, but also, it's not easy. You know, sometimes you can end up in the situation where you play the same player three weeks in a row.

So, yeah, it's like this. As I said, we are here boiling in the same circuit, and it happens that we are playing each other, practicing each other, and we know each other well.

Q. Daria, I think you said that you take positives out of the week, though. What does it mean for the rest of the season for you?

DARIA KASATKINA: Well, honestly, I feel -- I mean, I hope that this is like a cracking point because, as I said before, last couple of weeks were tough mentally and also struggling, you know.

Maybe on the tennis court couldn't find my game. It was a little bit lack of, like, this inspiration. I felt a little bit flat on the matches, where it's unacceptable if you want to win. You need this drive, and I didn't have it.

This week I felt back on track. All the four matches I played I felt as usual, normal. Also, I was showing pretty good tennis. So, obviously it's super positive sign, because when a tennis -- not just a tennis player, but when a person is struggling or having a little crisis, it's tough to get out of this.

So I'm happy that it didn't took much time and that I could able to come back here on the slam, especially. So, yeah, it's super positive. I mean, yes, I lost today, but I don't think that I lost in a bad way. So that's very important.

Q. For you is it easier or tougher if you lose to a friend, or is it a loss?

DARIA KASATKINA: Actually, it's okay. To lose to a friend is not that bad. Honestly, as I said before, on the tennis court for me it's fine. Playing a friend, I don't feel additional pressure or feeling uncomfortable or something. I'm very used to play against my friends.

It's not a problem. Even if I lose, I mean, there are always matches I win, there's matches I lose to a friend. For me it's normal. I'm happy to have a friend and lose to the friend than have an enemy, because I think it's worse emotions than having friends, on tour especially.

Q. Speaking of your friend, what have you noticed about her over the last year that has changed and made her so effective and allowed her to climb up the ladder so quickly at such a young age?

DARIA KASATKINA: Well, she grew so much. Honestly, I feel like she's taller and taller every single week. I see a lot with the serve that she's improving because of practicing a lot, so I see that her serve improving every time.

I mean, everyone sees that she's moving on court. I mean, the movement on court is very good. To make a winner, it's a problem, especially when the conditions are slow.

Of course, backing down the line is one of her weapons. Since we played at Indian Wells, I feel that mentally she became stronger as well, but this is something I see every time we are hitting the practice court.

Also, I think Conchita, you know, she played a big role, playing still a big role in that. Yeah, I mean, they're a good team, so they're progressing pretty good.

Q. Since you practice with her a lot and you talk to her a lot, I would like to say you're partly responsible for her maturity. I mean, you must be in some sense.

DARIA KASATKINA: I hope not (laughing).

Q. You know what I mean. Just making it easier for younger players on tour and things like that, and then they get really good, and they push you and sometimes beat you. Is that a weird feeling in some ways at all?

DARIA KASATKINA: You know, it's a weird feeling to play against someone ten years younger than you, when you are not that old as well. So it is a weird feeling.

Everyone saw from, like, couple of years ago that Mirra was already very good. I mean, the potential was always there, so there was just a matter of time when she going to skyrocket. It was pretty fast.

Yeah, honestly I'm not a big fan to talk about, like, someone who I just lost to (laughing). But, yeah, I mean, in general she's doing good. It's definitely -- you know, to give a lot of good feedback is also -- you know, if I'm responsible for her matureness, then I have to now shut up (laughing).

Q. You threw your wrist band after the game.

DARIA KASATKINA: She deserves.

Q. What was the gesture? It wasn't something impulsive in the moment, or did you plan to do this anyway?

DARIA KASATKINA: No, I mean, it was very little thing because she's always throwing something at me outside of the court. I don't know.

So, yeah, this was just a little thing. She said that she kept it and gave it to some fans. I said, Yeah, good, thank you. It was just a little fan.

Of course, I was disappointed after the match, but I mean, it's a game. I just wanted to do something little funny after.

Q. Could you just reflect for us on your first Grand Slam under the Australian flag, what the experience was like? Do you feel it inspired you in a way? Where do we go from here?

DARIA KASATKINA: Honestly, yes. It's been a good result, first of all, but also, I felt super good, honestly, to step on the court as an Australian player. Also, to feel the support from the stands because I heard many times that Aussies were -- I don't know if everyone who was screaming, "Aussie," were from Australia, but I felt this support.

Also, on social media I'm getting a lot of support from the Australians that they are so happy to welcome me, and they're happy for me. So, of course, this is kind of support which I honestly didn't have before. It feels like it's something new to me, but it feels so nice.

Of course, there could be better result. Always could be better, but I think it's a good start.