Amidst the turmoil in her homeland, Ukrainian tennis star Anhelina Kalinina found success at the Italian Open on Friday, defeating Russian counterpart Veronika Kudermetova in a captivating three-set showdown. This win enabled her to secure a place in the most significant finale of her professional journey, and she chose to honor her strife-stricken nation with her triumph.
Despite the sparse crowd at the Campo Centrale, the Ukrainian champion received enthusiastic support, with some spectators proudly waving the Ukrainian flag. Kalinina's residence was tragically decimated in a Russian offensive last year.
Kalinina shared with the audience the significance of each victory in light of the Ukrainian crisis. She hopes that her small successes might provide some glimmers of positivity and pleasure for her countrymen amidst their struggles.
In a match that lasted close to three hours, Kalinina and Kudermetova refrained from the traditional post-match handshake. When asked about her relationship with Kalinina amidst their nations' conflict, Kudermetova emphasised their roles as athletes. Regardless of their homelands, their primary goal is to play and cherish the sport of tennis.
Kalinina, currently 47th in the rankings, has been on a noteworthy winning spree, including an epic 3-hour, 41-minute showdown against Beatriz Haddad Maia in the quarterfinals - the longest match in the women's circuit this season. Her victories also include successes against previous Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin and prominent American player Madison Keys.
The upcoming final pits Kalinina against either Wimbledon victor Elena Rybakina or the 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko. Concurrently, the men's semifinals will host a clash between Holger Rune and Casper Ruud, and Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev.
With the Roland Garros tournament just around the corner, Rome's tournament acts as a significant precursor. Kalinina's only prior final appearance was in Budapest in 2021, where she was defeated by Yulia Putintseva.
Kudermetova, who ranks 12th, also achieved a place in the Madrid Open semifinals the previous week, only to be bested by the top-ranked Iga Swiatek.
Kalinina displayed exceptional agility in the match against Kudermetova, successfully elongating points. She skillfully responded to a drop shot with a precise lob midway through the second set, which proved to be a defining moment.
Even though Kudermetova exhibited a stronger serve, Kalinina used her court positioning to her advantage to find sharper angles. Despite Kudermetova managing to score 16 consecutive points to win the second set, Kalinina rebounded with a 4-0 lead in the third, culminating in a victory as the skies opened up.
