Tennis tournaments are known to push even the most composed players to their limits. No matter how calm they usually are, the intensity of the moment can bring out raw emotions. Such a scene unfolded at the ongoing Ningbo Open, where Anna Kalinskaya, Jannik Sinner’s girlfriend, found herself battling not only her opponent but also her own frustrations. Kalinskaya, who’s been making strides on the court, couldn’t hold back her emotions after facing a tough match.
The Russian tennis sensation took on Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals of the tournament. While she made a strong start to the match and won the first set, she could not convert it into a dominant victory and lost the clash in three sets 6-2, 2-6, 3-6. This defeat forced the star player to display her true emotions as she could not control her tears.
In a video that is going viral on Instagram, Kalinskaya can be seen crying while sitting on her chair after the match. She was continuously wiping her face with the towel, as tears were evident in her eyes. Remember, the star player faced immense struggle during the match especially because of her service game that was not at the best of levels.
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Playing against Muchova, Kalinskaya could not fire a single ace as against 11 from her opponent. Besides, she ended up making 13 double faults which were limited only to 2 from Muchova. She even struggled to convert the breakpoints in the match and eventually, was frustrated by her performance, which also added to the reason behind her tears. And Kalinskaya’s emotions are quite justified as well, given the heartbreaking losses she has faced this season.
While the Russian star has made some good progress in the ranking table, she has failed to win a single title this season. The World No. 12 advanced to the finals of the Dubai Open and the Berlin Grass Court championship but suffered heartbreaking losses there as well. Her performances at the Grand Slam tournaments were equally challenging with her best coming in the Australian Open this year, where she advanced to the quarterfinals. It is probably for these challenges that the frustration of the player has become evident time and again on the courts.
When Anna Kalinskaya displayed a rare side at the China Open
Anna Kalinskaya is known for her calm and stoic gestures on court. But this trait of hers took a backseat during the China Open when the Russian sensation played against Hailey Baptiste in the second round. While Kalinskaya advanced further to the next rounds, her victory did not come easily as she had to fight hard to oust her American counterpart in a three-set match, which she won 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(5). These struggles forced the star player to depict an unusual side of her trait.
The Russian player lost a crucial point in the third set when it was tied at 5-5. She shot the ball with a little too much power that ended up landing outside the court. This made the player furious as she was seen smashing her racquet against the ground several times before tossing it up in the air. However, it did not end there. With her opponent gaining a lead, Kalinskaya failed to deuce the point again and lost it to Baptiste’s witty gameplay. This further agitated the player, as she threw her racquet in the direction of her chair after Baptiste led the set 6-5.
As the season evolves, it would be crucial to see if Kalinskaya can overcome her challenges and end the year with a title victory. Will more such frustrating scenes unfold on the court? Well, only time will tell.
The post Heart-Breaking Scenes Erupt as Jannik Sinner’s Girlfriend Anna Kalinskaya Sobs Into Her Towel Out of Despair Owing to Stinging Loss appeared first on EssentiallySports.