The Wuhan Open is currently witnessing a tense match between Russian compatriots Anna Kalinskaya and Ekaterina Alexandrova. Kalinskaya is trailing 4-6, 0-1, but her situation is complicated by apparent health issues. After Alexandrova won the first set 6-4, Anna took a medical timeout. Physio was called, and the doctor was seen checking her blood pressure:

The exact nature of her ailment remains unknown, but it has raised concerns among spectators. Previously during the Wimbledon Championships, she expressed her disappointment after being forced to retire from the R4 match due to a wrist injury. After leaving the court, Kalinskaya stated, “I was feeling a bit numb. It affected me quite a lot. I thought it would go away but it didn’t. So I decided to stop because I wasn’t feeling any better. It’s very frustrating and very sad. It’s probably my favorite tournament. But I’m a human and I can’t fully control my body.”

Even during the Miami Open, she was forced to withdraw from the tournament ahead of her fourth-round match “due to a right thigh injury.” Then later on at the Canadian Open, we yet again saw her withdrawing from the R16 match against America’s Amanda Anisimova. While the injuries concerns are quite understandable, no one wants her to miss any actions, given her form this season.

Anna Kalinskaya has played some good tennis this season and with the help of her incredible run, she has now jumped up to the 13th spot in the women’s singles ranking. Anna Kalinskaya was ranked 80th at the start of this season. Then, with the help of some incredible runs, she has managed to come closer to the Top 10. Although Kalinskaya hasn’t won a title this season, she reached the QF of the AO and then made it to the finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships and Grass Court Championships in Berlin. What’s the secret to this rapid rise, though? Is it the aura of Jannik Sinner?

Well, we’ve seen both this tennis couples being the biggest supporters of each other in the last few months. Both Sinner and Kalinskaya are often spotted in the stands, cheering for each other during their partner’s matches. Jannik Sinner is already world number one, but there is a lot to achieve for Kalinskaya. “I’m just trying to be a little bit as good as him,” said Anna Kalinskaya in a previous interview. Surely her performance in the 2024 season has been quite exceptional, but what is her tennis goal for the rest of the season, though?

Anna Kalinskaya shares her new goal for the 2024 season

Both Jannik Sinner and Anna Kalinskaya are currently in China. Sinner has already reached the QF of the Shanghai Masters by beating America’s Ben Shelton in the R16. While Kalinskaya is still fighting hard to book her place in the R16 of the Wuhan Open. Although she has fulfilled one of her goals of reaching the Top 20 season, Kalinskaya doesn’t want to remove her foot from the pedal.

Speaking about her goals for the rest of the season, Kalinskaya said, “I had a goal to be top 20 this year. Now I have reached it and I have a new goal: to be top 10 and to be consistent with my results. I love playing on grass, I love playing on hard court, so I’m very excited. And my No. 1 goal is to stay healthy so I can work and show what I’m capable of.” Will she fulfill her second goal in the 2024 season?

Time will tell, but surely sharing ideas and perspectives on the game with Jannik Sinner might have been helping Kalinskaya a lot these days. What does Jannik Sinner say about exchanging tactics with his girlfriend? Do they even talk about tennis? Well, according to a recent statement by the Italian,

“As tennis players, we are, you know, different. I am different also to other tennis players. But for sure I always try to support her because she also tries to support me, giving some positive energy.” How nice it’s to see these two being each other’s inspiration and helping each other out to become the best in what they love the most!