Anna Kalinskaya had to deal with more than powerful groundstrokes during her fourth-round match at the 2025 Cincinnati Open. The 28th seed found herself pleading with officials to handle what she believed were intoxicated spectators disrupting her concentration. Despite the chaos in the stands, Kalinskaya managed to turn things around and secure a comeback victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova that kept her tournament hopes alive.
How Did Kalinskaya Handle the Disruptive Crowd Situation?
The drama unfolded on P&G Center Court on Wednesday, August 13, in front of a packed crowd at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Kalinskaya’s frustration reached a breaking point as the alleged rowdy fans continued their disruptive behavior during crucial moments of the match.
During a break in play, Kalinskaya approached the chair umpire with her concerns, stating, “Something’s humiliating with the sounds again. Can you tell the security?”
The chair umpire attempted to reassure her, responding, “I’m keeping an eye on them. I don’t think they’re doing something wrong.”
However, Kalinskaya pressed the issue further, explaining, “They’re making [noises], you know.”
The official acknowledged the situation, saying, “Yeah, they stop. But they’re also cheering for both of you. They’re clapping. I don’t know what they’re doing.”
That’s when Kalinskaya clarified her suspicion, suggesting, “Yeah, but I think maybe they’re drunk or something.” The umpire’s candid response caught everyone off guard: “They probably are.”
Anna Kalinskaya on some disruptive people in the crowd during her match against Alexandrova in Cincinnati
Anna: “I think maybe they’re drunk or something…”
Umpire: “They probably are”
pic.twitter.com/tFut5VIfWw
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 14, 2025
What Did Kalinskaya’s Comeback Victory Mean for Her Tournament?
Despite the unsettling atmosphere and the ongoing distractions, Kalinskaya showed remarkable mental toughness. She regained her composure and mounted an impressive rally from a set down, ultimately sealing a 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-1 victory over her Russian compatriot.
Kalinskaya Quarterfinals
Anna Kalinskaya regroups to fight past Alexandrova 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-1!#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/HUk20bsW4D
— wta (@WTA) August 14, 2025
The victory represents a significant achievement for Kalinskaya at this WTA 1000 tournament. This marks her fourth appearance at the Cincinnati Open, where she earned a bye into the second round as the 28th seed. Her path to the quarterfinals included defeating local favorite Peyton Stearns 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-1, followed by a 7-5, 6-4 victory over fifth seed Amanda Anisimova.
Why Has Kalinskaya Been at the Center of Cincinnati Controversies?
Unfortunately, this wasn’t Kalinskaya’s first time dealing with unwanted attention during the tournament. During her Cincinnati opener against Stearns, commentator Darren Kilfara made an inappropriate on-air reference to Kalinskaya’s past relationship with men’s World No. 1 Jannik Sinner during a changeover.
The pair had gone public with their relationship in May 2024 but split a year later. Kilfara remarked that after Sinner and Kalinskaya’s breakup, he had seen the World No. 1 practicing with Emma Navarro at the Cincinnati Open and questioned whether this was affecting the Russian’s mindset.
“Probably know that Kalinskaya ended her relationship with Jannik Sinner earlier this year. Noticed the other day that Sinner was out hitting with Emma Navarro the other day here in Cincinnati. Don’t know if that means anything, likely nothing, but it’s been raising eyebrows. Wonder if that’s on Kalinskaya’s mind at all, probably not.”
The commentary quickly drew backlash from fans on social media, who criticized the commentator for bringing personal matters into match coverage.
MORE: Commentator Who Mentioned Jannik Sinner, Anna Kalinskaya’s Past Relationship in Cincinnati Called Out by Rennae Stubbs
Following her win over Alexandrova, Kalinskaya advanced to her first quarterfinal appearance in Cincinnati. She’ll face former World No. 1 Iga Świątek in what promises to be a compelling rematch of their 2024 Dubai Tennis Championships semifinals, where the Russian claimed victory in straight sets. The winner of this quarterfinal clash will advance to face either top seed Aryna Sabalenka or ninth seed Elena Rybakina in the semifinals.
