Ukrainian tennis star Anhelina Kalinina has made her way to the semifinals of the Brisbane International after overcoming Australian wildcard Kimberly Birrell in a closely contested match. The thrilling encounter, held at the Queensland Tennis Centre on Friday, ended with Kalinina securing her spot with set scores of 4-6, 6-1, 7-5.
Kalinina, currently ranked No. 55, showcased resilience as she saved a matchpoint during the match, demonstrating her ability to perform under pressure. This victory was no easy feat. Despite losing the first set, she rallied back to take control of the second, eventually edging out Birrell who fought valiantly throughout the contest.
Before her quarterfinal victory, Kalinina had navigated through the tournament with impressive performances, benefitting from the withdrawal of Chinese player Yafan Wang (6-4, 2-0) and defeating Russian Diana Shnaider, the No. 5 seed (6-3, 4-6, 6-1), as well as Chinese Yue Yuan (6-1, 6-4). Her steady progression through the draw has positioned her as a strong contender for the title.
On the other side of the net, Kimberly Birrell, ranked No. 113, had embarked on her own impressive run, beating qualifier Priscilla Hon (3-6, 7-5, 6-2), second-seed Emma Navarro (7-5, 7-5), and Russian Anastasia Potapova (7-6 (2), 6-2). With this performance, Birrell was set to break the top 100 rankings for the first time—a significant milestone for the young Australian player.
The tournament, part of the WTA 500 series with a total prize purse of USD 1,520,600, has witnessed exciting matches, alerting fans about the growing talent pool within women’s tennis. Kalinina’s victory adds another layer of intrigue as tournament favorites clash heading to the finals.
Looking forward, Kalinina will face either American Ashlyn Krueger or Russian qualifier Polina Kudermetova for her place in the final. The anticipation builds as this Ukrainian star seeks to extend her winning streak and earn her first title of the season.
Overall, the Brisbane International has shed light on rising stars such as Kalinina and Birrell, underscoring the dynamic evolution of women’s tennis, where new talents consistently disrupt the established order. This tournament not only captures pivotal moments for each player but also showcases the thrilling unpredictability of the sport.