– I knew that if I didn’t keep calm and aggressive, she would crush me, says Kalinskaja in the interview on the track according to AP.
40-ranked Kalinskaja, who has risen to 24th in the live rankings, has had a fabulous week in Dubai, beating three top 10 players en route to the final. Nin Jelena Ostapenko and third Coco Gauff before the win against Swiatek and is ready for her first WTA final as a 25-year-old.
First time in 26 years
The last qualifier to beat two top 3 players in a WTA tournament is Amelie Mauresmo who did it in 1998 in Berlin.
– I am happy that I got the chance to play against her, says Kalinskaja, who is at a better physical level than before.
– It gives me a lot of confidence to play at such a high level, says the Russian.
It will be a doldis final in the major tournament that brought together the best players in the world. Kalinskaja will face the 26-ranked Italian Jasmine Paolini, who knocked out Sorana Cirstea 6-2,7-6(8-6).
Kalinskaja and Paolini are 1-1 in head-to-head meetings.