Ukraine, Italian Open, Challenger success – Everything you always wanted to know about Anhelina Kalinina (but never had time to find out) – updated after Rome final

A player from Ukraine who has yet to make a big impact on the WTA Tour, Anhelina Kalinina has reached her first WTA 1000 final at the Italian Open. Here’s everything you need to know about her

Kalinina, Rome 2023 – © AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Jamie Malachy

May 21, 2023

Who is Anhelina Kalinina?

Anhelina Kalinina is a Ukrainian professional tennis player. She was born on 7th February 1997, in Nova Kakhovka, Ukraine. Now 26 years of age, Kalinina started played tennis at the age of 6, and has trained in Trnava, Slovakia, at the Empire Academy, under the tutelage of Vladimir Platenik. She has also been coached by Daria Safina, and her favourite surface to play on is hard.

What is Kalinina’s best finish at a Grand Slam?

Anhelina Kalinina has yet to make a big impact at Grand Slam level. Her best finish at the Australian Open was in the third round in 2023. Kalinina’s best finishes at Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open have all been second round runs – in 2021 and 2022, in 2022, and in 2018, 2021 and 2022 respectively.

Has Kalinina ever won a WTA title?

No. Kalinina is yet to win a WTA title. However, she has a title on the WTA Challenger Tour, as well 15 singles titles and three doubles titles on the ITF Circuit.

What did Kalinina achieve at the 2023 Italian Open?

Kalinina became the lowest-ranked woman to reach the final in Rome since Raffaella Reggi in 1985, and just the second Ukrainian to reach this stage at a WTA 1000 since former world No. 3 Elina Svitolina.

As a result, Kalinina has broken into the world’s top 25 for the very first time in her career.

Kalinina was also involved in the longest match of the season so far, when she beat 12th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia in a match lasting 3 hours and 41 minutes in the quarter-finals.

She reached the biggest final of her career – and her maiden WTA 1000 final – in another long match lasting almost three hours against Russian Veronika Kudermetova in the semi-finals.

In the final, Kalinina was forced to retire due to injury while trailing Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, 6-4, 1-0.

Has Kalinina been in a WTA final before?

Yes, but only once. Kalinina reached the final of the WTA 250 Budapest Grand Prix in 2021 played on clay. Her appearance in the final of the Italian Open in 2023 marks her second ever WTA final appearance, and her first at the WTA 1000 level.

Who is Kalinina’s coach?

Kalinina’s coach is Anton Korchevskiy, who is also her husband.

What is Kalinina’s highest ranking?

Kalinina reached her career-high singles ranking of world No 28 on March 20, 2023. She reached No 120 in the WTA doubles rankings on April 3, 2023.

However, by reaching the final of the Italian Open in 2023, Kalinina is guaranteed to reach a new career-high ranking, and break into the top 25 for the first time in her career.

In June 2022, she became Ukraine’s No. 1 WTA player, overtaking Elina Svitolina.

How much prize money has Anhelina Kalinina won?

Kalinina has won a total of $2,212,370 in prize money over the course of her career. Although she is yet to win a WTA title, her titles on the ITF and WTA Challenger Circuit, as well as frequent appearances in the early rounds of Grand Slams through qualifying have all contributed to her net earnings.

By reaching the final of the Italian Open, Kalinina’s career prize money will increase significantly as she is guaranteed to win at least $313,030 regardless of the outcome in the final.

How tall is Anhelina Kalinina?

Kalinina is 1.79 metres tall (5 ft, 10 inches), meaning she is one of the taller players on the WTA Tour.

What are Kalinina’s biggest wins?

While she not made consistent inroads at WTA tournaments, Kalinina has notched several high-profile victories in her career. As of May 2023, Kalinina has beaten a top 20 player on seven different occasions. In 2023 alone, the Ukrainian has beaten Petra Kvitova (the 15th seed, at the Australian Open), Veronika Kudermetova (once at the Dubai Championships and once at the Italian Open), and Beatriz Haddad Maia (also in Rome).