Australian Open 2025: Concerns Mount for Jannik Sinner’s GF Anna Kalinskaya as She Announces Unexpected Withdrawal From the Event

Just a week after pulling her name from the Adelaide International due to a possible injury, 13th seeded Anna Kalinskaya has stunned the tennis community with a last-minute shocker at the 2025 Australian Open. The World No. 16 has decided to withdraw from the first Major down under on the eve of her first-round match, on Tuesday, against Australia’s Kimberley Birrell. She’s now been replaced by lucky loser, Germany’s Eva Lys.

It’s a disappointing update for all the fans of Anna Kalinskaya who were eager to watch her in action at the Slam down under. Her best run at the Major came last year. In 2024, the WTA pro reached the QF round after defeating Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. However, she was ousted by China’s Qinwen Zheng 6-7, 6-3, 6-1 and couldn’t move into the semifinal. And now she won’t be able to improve her record with her withdrawal in the current edition. An official reason for pulling back her name is yet to be announced.

Moving into a new season, Kalinskaya started her journey at the Brisbane International in late December. However, her singles campaign ended early after a loss to America’s Ashlyn Krueger. In the doubles category, she and her partner Priscilla Hon managed to reach the title clash. But sadly, the duo couldn’t lift the trophy after losing against the indomitable pairing of Mirra Andreeva and Diana Schnaider.

However, the news of her latest withdrawal is also heartbreaking because of what it might mean for the larger picture. Just a few days ago, Kalinskaya expressed significant enthusiasm for the new season. Ahead of the major down under, she displayed a strong zeal as outlined her hopes for 2025. What did she have to say then?

Anna Kalinskaya’s 2025 goals take a hit after unexpected Australian Open withdrawal

Last week, the official account of WTA posted a clip on Instagram. It featured tennis stars like Aryna Sabalenka, Paula Badosa, and also Anna Kalinskaya. They were asked some intriguing questions to which they had to give a short answer. When asked, “Who will reach their first Grand Slam Final this year?” the World No.14 picked herself and said, “Hopefully, it’s me” Clearly, she seemed positive about her chances at the Australian Open.

At the end of last season, where she had a singles record of 38-19, WTARussians shared a clip featuring Kalinskaya on December 28. It showed her excitement about the progress she made in 2024. “I think last year I played the (qualifying) if I’m not wrong and now being a seeded I don’t have to play the first round makes me super happy and super proud of myself,” she said. Despite an injury during the 2024 Wimbledon forcing her to withdraw from the third round, she went on to claim a career-best No.11 ranking. Last year, she even made it to her first WTA 1000 final at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

In an interaction with Harper Bazaar in December, Anna Kalinskaya had revealed her plans for 2025. She was determined to perform well, and candidly admitted: “If I can stay healthy, good things will follow”. But looking at how her new season has begun, the journey going forward has become slightly difficult. Avid fans will want her to return soon and shine on the court once again. What are your thoughts on the WTA pro’s last-minute withdrawal from the Australian Open? Let us know in the comments below.