Mission accomplished for Anna Kalinskaya. The 25-year-old Russian passed the hurdle of the first round at the Berlin tournamentWTA 500 in preparation for the next Wimbledon Slam, beating the Japanese Nao Hibino in a comeback. Sigh of relief for Jannik Sinner’s girlfriend, who had lost – and badly – the first set, but then managed to put things back on track. In short, the transversal message addressed to Jannik through social media seems to have worked: for confirmation we have to wait for the outcome of the match between Sinner and the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, scheduled for Tuesday in nearby Halle.
Kalinskaya’s story on De Minaur and Boulter
Kalinskaya, in fact, through a story on Instagram had simultaneously celebrated the success of Alex De Minaur on the grass in s’Hertogenboschin the Netherlands, and his girlfriend Katie Boulter in Nottingham, UK: “I’m happy for both of them. I congratulate you and see you soon”, the tender message shared by the young Russian on her account. But also a clear “wish” for herself and her boyfriend to experience similar emotions and sensations. She did hers, even if with a few too many worries. Now it’s the turn of the number 1 in the ATP ranking to take care of the Griekspoor matter.
Anna, how scary: comeback victory over Hibino
Of course, after the first set Anna had a tough time. Nao Hibino, a 29-year-old Japanese player who occupies position number 93 in the WTA rankings, dominated the first part of the match, leaving just two games to Jannik’s girlfriend: 2-6. The recovery starting from the second set, despite some physical problem that required medical intervention. Kalinskaya, 69 positions ahead of the Japanese in the ranking (she started the tournament as number 24), began to find rhythm and finally land winning shots with continuity. The service percentages are also good. Result: 6-4 to get back on track in the second set and 6-2 to close the game in the third, won relatively easily.
Sinner in Halle, Kalinskaya in the stands for Jannik?
A victory that is also a kick to the criticism that has been raining down on her from Russia ever since the relationship with Sinner became public knowledge. It won’t be easy, however, to repeat in the round of 16 against a big player on the circuit, the Czech Marketa Vondrousova, seeded number 5, who in turn beat the Spanish Rebeka Masarova with an authoritative 6-4 6-3. But first, Anna could treat herself to a trip to nearby Halle (a couple of hours by car, even less by train) to support the beloved Jannik in his seasonal debut on grass, as well as in his first match ever as number 1. After all, he also made it clear through the his story: winning is beautiful, but if the other half of the heart also wins, it is even more beautiful.
