Anna Kalinskaya’s fourth-round match at the 2025 Cincinnati Open turned into more than just a test of forehands and backhands. On Wednesday, August 13, under the lights at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, the 28th seed found herself trying to block out more than Ekaterina Alexandrova’s powerful serve — she was also contending with what she believed were intoxicated spectators breaking her focus at key moments.
Midway through the match, Kalinskaya’s patience snapped. She walked over to the chair umpire during a break and made her point plain: The crowd was disrupting her play.The umpire responded that he was “keeping an eye on them,” and didn’t believe the fans were doing anything wrong. But Kalinskaya pressed the issue: “They’re making [noises], you know.”
The official acknowledged the interruptions but said the crowd was “cheering for both of you.” Kalinskaya didn’t seem convinced. “Yeah, but I think maybe they’re drunk or something,” she offered. The umpire’s dry reply — “They probably are” — drew attention online almost immediately.
Despite the distractions, Kalinskaya found her footing. Down a set, she saved a break point early in the second before forcing a tiebreak, where she converted her third set point to even the match. In the decider, she broke Alexandrova’s serve three times, sealing a 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-1 comeback that sends her into her first Cincinnati quarterfinal.
The win continues what has been a solid run for the 26-year-old Russian in Ohio. After earning a first-round bye as the No. 28 seed, she edged past American Peyton Stearns in a tight three-setter, then ousted fifth seed Amanda Anisimova in straight sets. Against Alexandrova, however, her path was less straightforward — and the atmosphere more tense.
Kalinskaya now faces an even bigger test: a rematch with Iga Świątek, the former world No. 1 and current top contender. The two have met only once before, but it was Kalinskaya who came out on top, winning their 2024 Dubai semifinal in straight sets. This time, the stakes are higher. The winner will advance to face either top seed Aryna Sabalenka or ninth seed Elena Rybakina in the semifinals.
Kalinskaya handled a rocky start, tuned out the nonsense from the stands, and clawed her way into the tournament’s final eight. Whether she can summon that same poise against Świątek could decide whether her Cincinnati run keeps going — or stops just short of the weekend.
