Daria Kasatkina, the world`s 14th-ranked tennis player who changed her sports citizenship to Australian in March, has opened up about how she reacts to online hate. She discussed this in an interview on Caroline Garcia`s podcast, which was recorded in February during the Doha tournament.
When asked about the impact of criticism from the media and fans, Kasatkina admitted that it used to affect her more in the past. ” раньше влияла больше. Я читала и думала, что они говорят правду. Но это не так (улыбается). Очевидно, что это не так – но уже с возрастом понимаешь, что они говорят о себе, а не обо мне. Но иногда всё ещё тяжело справляться, потому что читаешь, как кто-то пишет: `Бесполезная, не может играть, то не может, это не может`. Всегда хочется ответить. Особенно после поражений, когда много эмоций, хочется взорваться. Но потом забываешь.”
Elaborating on her coping mechanisms, Kasatkina explained, “Therefore, I close comments before a match or tournament. Because it`s madness. People are sick. I don`t understand how there can be so much hatred in someone. Of course, I consider that they have no logic, but even if you think about it: you take your money, choose to bet on me, on a tennis match, which never guarantees 100% that the bet will play. I lose, you also lose. And you blame me.”
Reflecting on her initial experiences with online negativity, Kasatkina shared, “When you first encounter hate, it`s like your rose-colored glasses are completely shattered. You think: what is happening? Are people really that awful? And yes, they are that awful,” she noted.
