WATCH: Daria Kasatkina breaks down in tears over successive opening round exits at Citi Open & Canadian Open; rues Russia's reported YouTube blackout

Daria Kasatkina broke down tearfully following her back-to-back second-round exits at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. and the National Bank Open in Toronto. The Russian also bemoaned the widespread lack of access to YouTube in her native country at the moment, which is widely speculated to be a decision taken by the Vladimir Putin-led government amid mounting political tensions. Natalia Zabiiako, Kasatkina's girlfriend, was there alongside the emotional World No. 12, lending her a supportive shoulder.

At the Citi Open, Kasatkina was the No. 2 seed and had received a first-round bye. However, despite having established a one-set lead over Caroline Dolehide in the second round, Kasatkina inexplicably collapsed and was bundled out of the WTA 500 event. Next, in Toronto, the No. 5 seeded Russian once again tasted defeat in the second round, this time at the hands of the resurgent Amanda Anisimova.

In the most recently-released episode of 'What the Vlog', Kasatkina and Zabiiako's collectively-run YouTube vlog series, the World No. 12 could not hide her disappointment on the back of two successive opening round exits. The former World No. 8 also rued the YouTube situation in Russia, suggesting that the majority of the vlog's audience will not be able to follow it.

Watch Kasatkina's emotional meltdown unfold below:

The saddest ending of a Kasatkina vlog episode: she lost her first match twice in a row and Russia started to ban Youtube for the people byu/Hyperballadatopos intennis

There has been global concern over freedom of speech in Russia, especially that of the critics of Putin's regime. YouTube is considered one of the last remaining platforms in the country where the positions and opinions of Putin's opponents can be viewed.

However, recently, widespread reports of serious glitches on the video-hosting site have surfaced, and many believe that this is the Russian President's doing, to further crush dissent.

Despite recent disappointments, Daria Kasatkina has still had a relatively solid season so far

Daria Kasatkina (Source: Getty)

Kasatkina's struggles across the Citi Open and the National Bank Open don't paint a true picture of her overall 2024 tennis season up until now. The World No. 12 has so far reached the finals of four WTA Tour-level tournaments this year, emerging triumphant on one occasion.

The 27-year-old's final losses came in the Adelaide International (to Jelena Ostapenko), the Abu Dhabi Open (to Elena Rybakina), and the Charleston Open (to Danielle Collins).

However, in the final of the Eastbourne International, Kasatkina broke her title duck for the season by emerging victorious over Leylah Fernandez. It was the Russian's seventh title on the WTA Tour and her first taste of glory on grass.