Alexandrova vs Kalinskaya

WTA Cincinnati — Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Anna Kalinskaya

Hard court • USA • Round of 16

🧠 Form & Context

Ekaterina Alexandrova

• 🎯 Efficient start: d. Lulu Sun & Maya Joint in straights (~2.5 hours total).
• 📈 Season consistency: 7 QFs in 2025 (incl. Doha WTA 1000); better than last year’s total.
• 🚪 Cincinnati step: First time beyond R2 after prior early exits.
• 💪 Top-20 return: Eight straight multi-win events from Charleston to Hamburg.
• 📍 H2H: Leads Kalinskaya 6–0; last two were three-setters in Asia.

Anna Kalinskaya

• 🔥 Summer swing: 8–2 in North America (Washington F, Montreal R3).
• 🎯 Key scalp: d. No. 5 Anisimova in straights (13th top-10 win).
• 🔄 Rebound arc: Early-season inconsistency now trending up.
• 🚪 Big-stage goal: Aiming for 3rd WTA 1000 QF (Guadalajara ’22, Dubai ’24).
• ⚠️ H2H hurdle: 0–6 vs Alexandrova, but took a set in last two meetings.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Alexandrova keys: Flat, penetrating first strikes; spot-serving to mute Kalinskaya’s return; keep points short.

Kalinskaya path: Absorb & redirect with depth; extend rallies; test Alexandrova’s movement and patience.

Matchup trend: Alexandrova’s early contact and court positioning have historically rushed Kalinskaya’s timing.

🔮 Prediction

Pick: Ekaterina Alexandrova in three tight sets — closer than earlier chapters, but edge to the 6–0 H2H holder.