20-year-old Russian Anna Kalinskaya earned her first Grand Slam main draw win and her first Top-10 win on Tuesday at the US Open against 2017 champion Sloane Stephens.
Get to know the qualifier who pulled the biggest upset of Day 2:
She is coached by former WTA player Patricia Tarabini
Kalinskaya began working with Tarabini, a former World No.29 from Argentina, just before Wimbledon. She credits the coach with helping her relax. "I learn a lot from her every day," Kalinskaya said. "She was a former player and she knows a lot about how I feel. We have a good connection."
Kalinskaya has an improved mindset
The Russian also credits Tarabini for helping her mental game. "I try to enjoy being more on court, and in my game I try to focus on every point more," she said. "I changed my coach and she's a funny person and she taught me a lot on how to enjoy, that's why I think my game changed because I love being on court more."
She is good friends with Nick Kyrgios
Kalinskaya is a fan of Australia's Nick Kyrgios. After her win against Stephens on Tuesday night, she told reporters that she would go watch his first-round match in Louis Armstrong Stadium. "I think I'm going to watch him a little bit, to support."
Four of Kalinskaya's seven WTA wins have come in the past month
The Russian won three matches at the Citi Open in July to reach her first WTA semifinal. Her fourth win of the season came on Tuesday in New York over Stephens. She was 3-16 lifetime prior to 2019. and snapped a 12-match tour-level losing streak that had lasted well over a year at D.C. this summer.
She doesn't want to know who she plays next at the US Open
Kalinskaya faces World No.141 Kristie Ahn in the second round at the US Open. When a reporter tried to tell her that at a press conference after her victory over Stephens, she quickly stopped him in his tracks. "I don't know who it is," she said. When asked if she wanted to know who it was she said: "No, I will know tomorrow morning. Now I want to rest a little."
