For the first time since it was made official at Roland Garros, Kalinskaya spoke about her and Sinner’s relationship in Berlin—and she was cheeky!
Can another power couple do the double? A week after Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur raised trophies on the same weekend (for the second time this season), Anna Kalinskaya and Jannik Sinner are seeking to do the same.
After weeks of speculation, Kalinskaya and Sinner went public with their budding romance at Roland Garros as they were spotted supporting each other in the stands during matches. Sinner also confirmed their relationship to Italian press.
But Kalinskaya had remained quiet … until Saturday in Berlin, when she pulled double duty against Aryna Sabalenka (who retired with a shoulder injury) and Victoria Azarenka to reach her first career grass-court final.
“I’m just trying to be a little bit as good as him,” a giggling world No. 24 said when informed in her on-court interview that Sinner secured a spot in the Terra Wortmann Open final, also a first for him on grass. (Watch the full clip below.)
“He’s had an amazing year. Today was difficult; usually I watch,” she continued, bemoaning the weather-induced scheduling conflict. “Let’s see if we can watch each other tomorrow. I’m going to text him now!”
A victory for Kalinskaya on Sunday would be doubly notable as she’s never won a WTA tour singles title of any kind, having never reached a final before she finished runner-up to Jasmine Paolini in Dubai in February.
She’ll face either Coco Gauff, whom she beat in Dubai, or Jessica Pegula in the final. The two Americans will resume their semifinal, which was called off Sunday night after rain, on Sunday morning; Pegula was leading 7-5, 6-6(3-1) when the match was halted.
