Anna Kalinskaya, the top seed at the WTA Singapore Tennis Open 2024, showcased her resilience and skill by overcoming Switzerland’s Simona Waltert (WTA 179) with a score of 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) to advance to the quarterfinals. This win marks Kalinskaya’s continued resurgence following a difficult start to her season, where she missed the Australian Open due to illness.
The match held on January 29, 2025, demonstrated Kalinskaya’s ability to handle pressure, particularly during the challenging second set. Initially, the Russian star coalesced her strengths, winning the first set comfortably after breaking Waltert’s serve twice. Kalinskaya faced her first major challenge of the match early on, when Waltert had four break points during the second game but failed to convert them. The Russian regained her composure, breaking Waltert’s serve twice to take the opener.
Entering the second set, Kalinskaya appeared set for victory when she collected an early break to lead 3-1. But Waltert, not ready to concede, fought back with tenacity. The Swiss qualifier showcased her prowess by forcing Kalinskaya to serve out the match at 5-4, only for Kalinskaya to falter and have her serve broken. This slip inevitably led to a tie-break, where Kalinskaya regained her momentum and quickly surged to a 5-1 lead, closing the match with solid play.
Reflecting on her performance, Kalinskaya remarked, "It was a tough match. She’s a great player. I had many chances, many break points but she has an unbelievable serve. Some big shots." With this victory, Kalinskaya secured her place and confidence as she prepares for her next opponent, Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand, who advanced after defeating Cristina Bucsa 6-4, 6-4.
Kalinskaya’s recent performances are particularly noteworthy, as the 26-year-old is enthusiastic about finally getting back on track after enduring setbacks where she lost her first two matches of the season. She highlights the significance of her re-entry, stating, "I’m very excited and very impressed at how good the organisation is, and how good the facility is. There are not many tournaments indoors, but this seems like a very, very good start." This optimism indicates her desire to build on this momentum, especially after feeling sidelined during the Australian Open.
The budding narrative around Kalinskaya this season has been amplified due to her relationship with top-ranked ATP player Jannik Sinner, who recently won the Australian Open. While this dynamic has attracted media attention, Kalinskaya insists it doesn’t add pressure to her performance. "Not at all. I don’t think there’s pressure, it doesn’t change anything," she clarified, reflecting on her relationship and competitive spirit.
Kalinskaya’s confident display against Waltert provides promising prospects as she heads toward the latter stages of the WTA Singapore Tennis Open. Fans and analysts alike will keep their eyes on her upcoming match for potential signs of snagging her first WTA title.
With the Singapore tournament marking her return to form, it seems all eyes will be again on Kalinskaya as she continues to seek progress not only for herself but also within the tournament's competitive framework.