Russian star Daria Kasatkina is well-known in the tennis fraternity for her prowess and charming personality. Off the court, she also runs a side blog with her girlfriend Natalia Zabiiako. As the partners document their journey worldwide, it sheds light on the players’ lives. And now, Daria has formally invited Iga Swiatek to appear on her vlog for an interview.
Swiatek and Kasatkina were in Tokyo last week for the Pan Pacific Open, which marked the beginning of the Asian swing. While they were in the city, they even practiced together. Unfortunately, both players crashed out of the tournament, losing to the eventual finalists- Jessica Pegula and Veronika Kudermetova.
Daria recently posted a snippet from her Tokyo vlog, where she formally invited the Pole to join her and her girlfriend on the vlog. “You are always welcome to come on the vlog to talk with me and Natasha,” said the world number 13.
An official statement from @DKasatkina to @iga_swiatek
“Iga, if you want, you are always welcome to come on the vlog to talk with me and Natasha” 🙌 pic.twitter.com/GJniHuLPTW
— Owen (@kostekcanu) October 7, 2023
In the clip, Kasatkina talked about practicing with Iga. She then joked that Iga stayed back to practice a little longer, so she would not have to appear on the vlog. However, the Russian player extended an official invitation to Swiatek this time.
Iga Swiatek has looked in good touch recently. While she has not been able to replicate the success of 2022, she has still performed admirably well. Swiatek lost the top rank to Aryna Sabalenka and confessed that a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
It has translated to the way she is playing more freely at present. Swiatek defeated Coco Gauff in the semifinals of the China Open, the last WTA 1000 event of the year. This win marks the eighth WTA 1000 final appearance of her career.
Iga Swiatek will take on Liudmila Samsonova in the final of the China Open
The world number 2 will lock horns with Liudmila Samsonova in the highly-anticipated final on Sunday. Swiatek has ratcheted up 62 wins out of 73 matches this year.
Swiatek has looked like a player on a mission in Beijing, a stark contrast from her outing in Tokyo. She defeated Caroline Garcia, and Coco Gauff en route to the final. Iga snapped Gauff’s 16-match win streak by handing her a defeat in the semifinal.
Superfinal set in Beijing🇨🇳🔒#ChinaOpen
🇵🇱Swiatek 🆚 Samsonova🇷🇺
SFs:
Iga beats easily Gauff 62 63 and ends her incredible winning streak (16).Samsonova upsets Rybakina 76 63 and knocks the Kazakhstan out of the final pic.twitter.com/7gJ2wo7LPN
— Game Tweet & Match (@WTATPcoverage) October 7, 2023
Liudmila Samsonova has been very impressive in Beijing. The world number 22 defeated Jelena Ostapenko and Elena Rybakina on her way to the final in China.
Iga Swiatek leads the head-to-head against Samsonova, but the Russian player will not be an easy player to defeat. The final between the two is going to be a memorable one.