Ukrainian tennis player Angelina Kalinina continues to surprise fans with her game on grass, which she herself calls her "Achilles heel". In the opening match of the WTA 250 tournament in Birmingham, Kalinina met the British Katie Boulter and was able to demonstrate her endurance and skill.
Opening match and unexpected result
At the start of her match against Katie Boulter, Kalina looked confident and focused. She won the first set, after which Boulter had to retire due to physical problems. This gave the Ukrainian an opportunity to advance to the next round, where she will face Yulia Putintseva.
Challenges of grass cover
Angelina Kalinina has always openly talked about her difficulties with playing on grass. However, this time she found a way to adapt to the conditions and even enjoyed the game. She noted:
"How much did I enjoy the game? Firstly, I enjoyed the fact that I was able to put some balls on the court. Grass is absolutely not my surface and I am very proud of myself that I was able to play today (laughs) ."
Fatigue and sympathy of the opponent
Kalinina also expressed her understanding of the situation in which her rival Katie Boulter found herself. The Brit won the tournament last week and played two matches in a day, which led to physical fatigue. Kalinina recalled her experience at Roland Garros, when she also experienced leg problems due to overuse:
"I understand very well what happened to Katie. I was in almost the same position at Roland Garros when I had a semi-final in Strasbourg the day before the competition. I played 6 sets, a quarter-final and a semi-final in one day."
Next steps and perspectives
In the next round, Kalinin will meet the experienced Yulia Putintseva, and this match promises to be intense. Previous meetings between these athletes have been very competitive, and spectators expect to see exciting tennis.
Results and forecasts
A successful start at the tournament in Birmingham, despite the difficult conditions, shows the growing skill and confidence of Kalinina. If she can maintain her form and adapt to the grass, she has every chance of going far in this tournament.
Editor: Yana Davidyuk
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