'Pure nerves': Daria Kasatkina throws up metres from court ahead of first-round Wimbledon win
Daria Kasatkina has admitted she had a "little accident" moments before getting her Wimbledon campaign underway on Tuesday night (AEST).
Kasatkina defeated Colombian Emiliana Arango 7-5, 6-3 to secure her first grass-court win of the season in just over an hour and 30 minutes.
Battling a poor lead-up to the tournament and "extra" pre-match nerves, the win was a huge weight off Kasatkina's shoulders.
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Daria Kasatkina in action against Emiliana Arangoat Wimbledon. Robert Prange via Getty Images
"It's a huge relief," the recently converted Aussie star told Stan Sport afterwards.
"I don't know if you noticed, but after the match I shrugged [off a] kind of backpack with stones. I got out of the backpack, so it feels great.
"I was very nervous before the match, which is normal at a slam, but I was extra nervous than normal, than is acceptable, let's say.
"So, I'm very happy with the win."
Kasatkina explained that her pre-match nerves were so severe that minutes before walking onto Court 14, the Russian native who was granted Australian residency in March, was sick just metres from the court.
"A little accident happened," she said.
Daria Kasatkina speaks to Stan Sport after her first-round victory at Wimbledon. Stan Sport
"In the corner, I vomited, just before stepping on court.
"Nothing serious, just pure nerves.
"That's why I said I was extra nervous than [what is] acceptable."
Feeling the pressure to perform, Kasatkina confessed that the nausea was a new experience in her career.
"Sometimes these things you can't control because when you're working hard [and] you're trying your best, not everything goes your way, and right before a very important match, this can happen," she said.
"But I'm happy with how I was able to manage it and get through it to start the match and have it not affect me."
Daria Kasatkina books her place in the second round at the All England Club. Robert Prange via Getty Images
Fortunately, Kasatkina managed to overcome the feeling, and Arango, in straight sets to snap a four-match losing streak on grass.
"I felt better after," she said.
"Before [I felt] dizzy and not well. I felt that something was wrong.
"But afterwards, you feel that everything is actually fine. You're a little bit shaky after, but after five minutes, you already feel good.
"I was actually quite happy it happened because I was then more calm and I didn't have any issues after that. I was not as nervous."
Though an unpleasant occurrence, Kasatkina found a silver lining in keeping good company.
"I heard that Lionel Messi actually had this thing, like he was vomiting sometimes before important matches. So, now I can relate to this," she said.
Kasatkina will next face Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu in the second round on Thursday.
The 28-year-old is now the sole Australian woman left in the tournament.
