World No. 29 Anna Kalinskaya discussed her third-round defeat to Madison Keys at the WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid, where she lost 5-7, 6-7(3).
Reflecting on the singles match, Kalinskaya felt luck wasn`t entirely on her side. She mentioned having a couple of set points where Keys benefited from fortunate net cords (“sopples”) and hit many shots very close to the lines. She felt she lacked a bit of luck overall. In the second set, she held an advantage, leading 3-0. However, she felt she slightly stopped utilizing her serve effectively and playing aggressively during that period, which led to a dip in performance, with Keys catching up to 5-3. Although she later came close to turning the match around, she unfortunately couldn`t manage it.
Comparing the match conditions to their recent encounter in Charleston, Kalinskaya noted the significant difference. She explained that everything felt different on the court, and it was harder to return Keys` serve in Madrid due to playing at altitude. She views every match as a lesson, and this one was no exception. She understands she must not relax and plans to stay positive and continue working hard. She hopes to have a bit more luck on her side in the future.
Regarding her success in doubles, Kalinskaya confirmed it brings positive emotions and is beneficial. She primarily sees playing doubles as excellent training. Secondly, she enjoys playing with her partner Sorana Cîrstea because they are friends, making it a pleasant training experience. She enjoys it very much and finds it useful for practicing specific shots and her serve. Looking ahead, she intends to incorporate more aggression into her singles game.
Rupert Hartwell