Rybakina and Kalinina Set for Rome Final as WTA scene heats up
Elena Rybakina, born in Kazakhstan and competing for Kazakhstan, spoke warmly about her upcoming Rome final opponent, Ukrainian player Angelina Kalinina. The moment was shared publicly after a connection to their shared coaching history became clear. The two athletes have built a strong rapport, and Rybakina expressed pride in their relationship and in Kalinina’s support whenever she triumphs. The fans are eager to see them clash for the title in Rome.
The much anticipated final is scheduled to start at 20:00 local Roma time.
In the semifinals, Rybakina defeated Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia with a straight-sets victory, 6:2, 6:4. Kalinina advanced by beating Veronika Kudermetova of Russia in a three-set contest, 7:5, 5:7, 6:2.
Current WTA rankings place Rybakina at sixth and Kalinina at 47th, highlighting the clear contrast in their season trajectories up to the Rome final.
In the broader rankings landscape, Polish star Iga Swiatek continues to lead with a tally of points that places her atop the standings. Arina Sobolenko sits in second, closing the gap thanks to a head-to-head victory over Swiatek in Madrid. American Jessica Pegula remains in the top three, a reminder of the depth in the rankings this season. Pegula recently competed in the doubles final in Madrid with fellow American Cori Gauff.
In related context, Kalinina explained reasons behind not shaking hands with Kudermetova after their Madrid match, a moment that drew attention and commentary from fans and analysts alike. The Rome final promises to add another memorable chapter to the ongoing narrative of the season’s late-spring swing and the evolving dynamics among the sport’s top competitors [citation needed].