Australian Star’s Mid-Match Wardrobe Woe Mars Wimbledon Clash
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Daria Kasatkina’s Wimbledon Match Derailed by Bizarre Wardrobe Malfunction
Daria Kasatkina’s third-round Wimbledon clash took an awkward turn when her earring became tangled in her shirt during a rally, costing her a critical point. The incident epitomized a frustrating day for the 16th-seeded Aussie, who fell to Russia’s 19th-seeded Liudmila Samsonova in straight sets (6-2, 6-3).
[Image: Kasatkina mid-rally, earring snagged in her shirt. Caption: Kasatkina’s earring got caught during a forehand swing.]
The mishap occurred as Kasatkina, 28, fired a forehand and raised her shoulder, accidentally hooking her jewelry into her Adidas tee. Struggling to free herself, she failed to return Samsonova’s backhand. Despite the setback, Kasatkina initially held her own, leveling the first set at 2-2. But Samsonova’s fierce serving and precision quickly shifted momentum, as she claimed four consecutive games to seal the opening set.
Rain delays briefly paused the match, with umpire Nico Helwerth humorously wheeled off court in his chair. Kasatkina fought back in the second set, trading breaks to 3-3, but Samsonova’s relentless power—including serves clocking 170 km/h—proved insurmountable.
[Image: Samsonova celebrating victory. Caption: Samsonova dominated with aggressive play.]
Post-match, Kasatkina praised her opponent: “She’s in great shape… Her serve is one of the most dangerous on tour. I didn’t get any gifts today.” Samsonova, yet to drop more than three games in a set this tournament, advances to face Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the Round of 16.
The defeat caps a rocky Wimbledon run for Kasatkina, who admitted vomiting due to nerves during her first-round match. “I was super stressed,” she confessed, referencing her recent streak of early exits in pre-Wimbledon events.
[Image: Kasatkina with fiancée Natalia Zabiiako and Cate Blanchett. Caption: Kasatkina (left) with fiancée Natalia Zabiiako and Aussie actor Cate Blanchett.]
Off the court, Kasatkina has embraced her new life in Australia, securing permanent residency in April. “It’s my home now,” she said, planning her first Australian winter visit. The Russian-born star, engaged to Olympic skater Natalia Zabiiako, also made headlines this week posing with actor Cate Blanchett at Wimbledon.
Though her campaign ended abruptly, Kasatkina’s resilience—and a quirky earring snafu—will linger in Wimbledon lore.
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