The vice president of the Russian Tennis Federation, Alexey Selivanenko, praised Anna Kalinskaya for organizing a notable tournament in Dubai that captured attention across the sport. He highlighted the quality of the event and Kalinskaya’s role in delivering a compelling competition that showcased her growing maturity on the tour.
Selivanenko noted that Kalinskaya delivered an impressive performance by advancing from the qualifying rounds to the main draw and navigating a field that included some of the world’s strongest players. He observed that in the final she came very close to securing victory but ultimately fell short. He attributed the narrow result to the typical experience gap that can accompany athletes as they step up to grand final levels, yet he stressed Kalinskaya’s intelligence and versatility, calling her a smart player who competes with a mix of aggressive and strategic tennis. He added that the Dubai event served as a clear demonstration of her potential to win in major matches and at high-stakes tournaments.
Kalinskaya reached the championship match where she finished runner-up to Italian competitor Yasmina Paolini, with a scoreline that reflected a hard-fought three-set battle, 6:4, 5:7, 5:7. The final was intense and showcased Kalinskaya’s resilience and tactical growth throughout the tournament despite the final outcome.
On her path to the final, the Russian challenger defeated top-tier opponents, including American star Cori Gauff, who has been ranked among the world’s elite, and Poland’s Iga Swiatek, widely regarded as the world’s leading player at the time. These victories underscored Kalinskaya’s readiness to challenge the sport’s strongest rivals and to elevate her status in the sport’s hierarchy.
In the updated Women’s Tennis Association rankings, Kalinskaya sits at 40th place with 1323 points, reflecting the accumulation from her Dubai run and other events. At the top of the standings, Iga Swiatek of Poland continues to lead with a substantial advantage, followed by Belarusian Arina Sabalenko, who recently claimed the Australian Open title with 8905 points. The American sensation Cori Gauff places high in the table with 7100 points, rounding out the top trio. Among Russian players, the best result is Daria Kasatkina, who stands 13th with 3063 points, highlighting the ongoing depth of talent within the nation’s women’s game.
There was speculation about Kalinskaya’s chances to rise into the top 30 or top 20 as the season progressed, given her continuous development and notable performances against top opponents. The Dubai event contributed to a broader narrative about her progression, resilience, and potential for further breakthroughs in upcoming tour stops.