Anna Kalinskaya, the Russian tennis player, explained the reason she withdrew from her Wimbledon fourth-round match against Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan. Her comments were initially reported by Sports.ru.
Kalinskaya cited a persistent issue with her brush stroke as a major obstacle, noting numbness in her hand after the serve that affected both her serve and her opening shots. She hoped the problem would improve, but it did not, leading her to make the decision to retire from the match.
During the first set, when the score stood at 3:4 in favor of Rybakina, Kalinskaya requested medical assistance due to an ankle issue. The match coverage at the time included online updates from multiple outlets as events unfolded.
In December 2023, the International Olympic Committee allowed Russia and Belarus to participate in the 2024 Olympics with neutral status. The Paris Games were scheduled to take place from 26 July to 11 August 2024.
Subsequently, the International Tennis Federation confirmed that Russian and Belarusian players could compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in France under neutral status, provided they adhered to the neutral-athlete principles established by the IOC. Kalinskaya, who had been accepted to participate, ultimately declined to travel to Paris.
There has been ongoing public support from Elena Rybakina, who wished for Kalinskaya’s prompt recovery and a swift return to competition.