"They just created a new country" - Daria Kasatkina jokes about Chris Evert mixing up Elena Rybakina's nationality of Kazakhstan with her name

Daria Kasatkina reactred hilariously to Chris Evert
Daria Kasatkina reactred hilariously to Chris Evert's error while commentating on Elena Rybakina's Wimbledon opener

Chris Evert mixed up Elena Rybakina's nationality with Daria Kasatkina's while commentating on the former's Wimbledon opener against Shelby Rogers.

Rybakina, the reigning champion at the grasscourt Major, played the opening match on Day 2 of the tournament. She came back from a set down to beat Rogers 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 and book her place in the second round.

Chris Evert was the commentator during the match and accidentally mixed up Rybakina's country, Kazakhstan, with Daria Kasatkina's name while talking about how Rybakina moved for better tennis opportunities.

"Rybakina is a Russian, played for Russia, moved to Kasatkina," said Evert before being corrected.

Daria Kasatkina found the funny side to the incident and jokingly stated that a "new country" had been created.

"They just created a new country," the Russian's tweet read.

After defeating Shelby Rogers, Elena Rybakina will next face either Alize Cornet or Nao Hibino in the second round of Wimbledon.


Daria Kasatkina will face Jodie Burrage in the second round of Wimbledon 2023

Kasatkina in action at the Rothesay International in Eastbourne
Kasatkina in action at the Rothesay International in Eastbourne

Daria Kasatkina entered Wimbledon 2023 as the 11th seed and reached the second round with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Caroline Dolehide.

The Russian will next face local wildcard Jodie Burrage, who booked her place in the second round of a Grand Slam for the very first time in her career with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Caty McNally.

Kasatkina and Burrage will lock horns for the very first time, so their head-to-head currently reads 0-0. The winner of the match will face either 19th seed Victoria Azarenka or Nadia Podoroska in the third round of Wimbledon 2023.

Daria Kasatkina has won 20 out of 35 matches so far during the 2023 season, with her best performances being reaching the finals of two WTA 500 tournaments - in Adelaide and most recently in Eastbourne.

The 26-year-old was seeded ninth at the latter event and reached the title clash following straight-set wins over Anhelina Kalinina, Karolina Pliskova, Caroline Garcia, and Camila Giorgi. There, she was beaten 6-2, 7-6 (13) by Madison Keys.

Kasatkina's best Grand Slam performance so far in 2023 has been reaching the fourth round of the French Open.

She is currently the highest-ranked player in her section of the draw at Wimbledon, following the elimination of Coco Gauff in the opening round. Many believe Kasatkina has a fair chance of reaching her second quarterfinal at the grasscourt Major.

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Edited by Yasho Amonkar
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