Anna Kalinskaya from Russia is taking stock of her recent tennis runs at the Australian Open and the Dubai event to step into the French Open with greater confidence. The insights come from Nadezhda Petrova, a former world No. 3 who won an Olympic bronze in 2012 and runs a children’s tennis school, as shared with socialbites.ca.
Petrova noted that the match against Clara Burel proved tougher than expected for Kalinskaya. Burel seized the first set, and Kalinskaya fought back to win the second 7-5. This moment, according to Petrova, should serve as an early warning sign. Kalinskaya needs to refocus, seal gaps that allow rivals to seize momentum, and re-create the aggressive posture she displayed in Dubai and during stretches at the Australian Open. The critic suggested Kalinskaya should redouble her efforts to be consistently active, especially when pressed, and to move into more frontline positions as a top seed tends to do.
Petrova also commented on Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova’s performance in the opening round at Roland Garros. Pavlyuchenkova faced a qualifier who advanced through the qualifying rounds, and the veteran Russian player navigated the match with ease and efficiency, handling the task without trouble, according to Petrova.
In the latest developments, Kalinskaya defeated the host nation’s Clara Burel with a tight 7-6 win in the tiebreak 7-3, followed by a 7-5 victory in the second set. Kalinskaya now prepares for a clash with Canadian Bianca Andreescu in the next round. Pavlyuchenkova, after her straightforward first-round win, advances to meet Romanian competitor Ana Bogdan as the tournament progresses.
There is also a note from the prior rounds about Daniel Medvedev, where a set loss to Koepfer drew discussion about how one setback can shape the momentum of a match or a series of encounters. The takeaway emphasizes resilience, strategic adjustment, and the importance of maintaining steady focus through the late stages of a tournament.