In a dramatic turn of events, Anna Kalinskaya was forced to retire mid-match, allowing Elena Rybakina to sail into the quarterfinals of the latest U.S open tournament. The Russian player, who had shown promise early in the competition, was visibly struggling with an injury that ultimately cut her campaign short.
Kalinskaya’s unfortunate exit came during the second set, with Rybakina leading 6-3, 4-2. Despite battling hard to stay in the match, Kalinskaya’s physical limitations became too much to overcome. After consulting with her team and medical staff, she made the heartbreaking decision to retire, giving her Kazakh opponent a smooth path to the last eight.
Rybakina, the reigning Wimbledon champion, expressed sympathy for her opponent during her post-match interview. “It’s never the way you want to win,” Rybakina said. “Anna’s a great player, and I hope she recovers quickly. I was prepared for a tough battle, and I wish her all the best.”
Fans watching were left in suspense as Kalinskaya’s injury unfolded. The Russian player had been dealing with discomfort throughout the match but tried to push through. However, the pain became unbearable, leaving her no choice but to walk away from what could have been a fierce contest.
With Rybakina now through to the quarterfinals, she remains one of the tournament favorites. But Kalinskaya’s injury serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of tennis, where the fine line between victory and defeat can be decided by factors far beyond skill alone.
As Rybakina moves forward, all eyes will be on her performance in the next round, but the memory of Kalinskaya’s valiant effort will linger.
