By Chris Oddo | Thursday March 15, 2018
Russia's Daria Kasatkina is hitting her stride and the tennis world is taking notice.
Photo Source Dan Huerlimann/Beelde Images
American legend Chris Evert came away duly impressed with the shotmaking prowess of Russian 20-year-old Daria Kasatkina after her most recent scintillating performance at the BNP Paribas Open. After broadcasting the match for ESPN, the 18-time major champion couldn’t help but gush.
Live Blog: Day 9 of the BNP Paribas Open, Presented by Tecnifibre
“I mean the shotmaking from this young 20-year-old, it’s amazing to me,” Evert said while talking with Patrick McEnroe on air. “It takes a whole career to develop an all-court game. There’s so many shots to practice. You can’t say she’s [just] a baseliner. She’s got the hands, she’s got the spins. Let’s celebrate this 20-year-old, we’re going to be seeing a lot of her. She’s a big-match player, she loves playing the top seeds and she’s fun to watch.”
Kasatkina’s latest performance, a 6-0, 6-2 thrashing of two-time Grand Slam champion and current World No.10 Angelique Kerber, may have been her finest. She broke serve five times and won 34 of 54 return points, and never faced a break point on her serve, but the Russian hopes that bigger and better things are on the way.
The Russian has cracked a few big milestones this week at Indian Wells. She reached her first Premier Mandatory semifinal and has now reeled off back-to-back Top 10 wins for the first time. She has also knocked off three straight Top 20 wins for the first time.
Kasatkina has won 10 of her last 14 against the Top 20 since last year’s U.S. Open and she owns a 5-3 lifetime record against Top 20 players after her victory over Caroline Wozniacki in the round of 16.
The Russian will face either Venus Williams or Carla Suarez Navarro in the semifinals on Friday.
.