Kasatkina Balances Grand Slam Hopes with Expanding Media Presence

As World No. 12 Daria Kasatkina takes the court this Tuesday, January 20, 2026, for her Australian Open first-round clash against Czech prospect Nikola Bartunkova, she brings with her a growing reputation as one of the tour’s most transparent stars. While the 11:00 AM showdown in Melbourne marks her latest bid for Grand Slam glory, Kasatkina has been equally busy off the court, cementing her status as half of tennis’s favorite power couple alongside her girlfriend, former figure skater Natalia Zabiiako.

A New Digital Venture

The duo, who already helm the popular YouTube channel Zabiiako & Kasatkina, have expanded their digital footprint with the launch of a joint Instagram account. The move promises fans an even deeper dive into the unfiltered reality of life on the WTA Tour. Their initial posts have focused on their recent travels through Japan and China, documenting the start of the Asian Swing at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. This trip was also the subject of a feature-length, 69-minute vlog that offered a stark contrast between the joys of travel and the grueling conditions of professional competition.

Tokyo Drifts: Owls, Pokemon, and Jet Lag

According to Zabiiako, returning to Japan felt like stepping into “another world,” a sentiment captured through footage of the pair navigating one of Tokyo’s eccentric “owl” cafes and hunting for a Bulbasaur plushie in a massive Pokemon center. The vlog also featured lighthearted cameos from fellow players Elena Rybakina, Anna Kalinskaya, and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Pavlyuchenkova, in particular, provided a candid look at the unglamorous side of international travel. Clutching a cappuccino, she joked about her struggle to overcome jet lag with Kasatkina’s practice partner. “I drink a lot of coffee. This is probably the only thing that saves me,” Pavlyuchenkova admitted, dismissing standard advice about hydration and exercise. “I was on my feet all day… went to the gym after the plane, didn’t sleep… and it still sucks. Nothing helps, so that’s it… forget everything I just said!”

Battling the Elements

However, the tone of their content shifted dramatically as the tournament in Tokyo progressed. Kasatkina used their platform to highlight the dangerous extreme heat that plagued the event, where temperatures soared to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35°C). During her run to the quarterfinals, the conditions took a severe physical toll. Kasatkina described a terrifying sensation during her second-round match against Despina Papamichail, recalling how her body felt like it was simultaneously freezing and tickling from the inside.

“You think not only about how to play, what to do, but you think about how not to die,” Kasatkina said, criticizing the organizers for failing to close the roof at the Ariake Coliseum. She doubled down on these comments in the vlog, calling out WTA leadership for not intervening to protect player safety. As she heads into the Australian summer today to face Bartunkova, fans will be watching to see if she can channel that fighting spirit into a deep run at the season’s first major.