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15h ago

Kalinskaya’s Late-Night Victory and Early-Morning Slot Fuel WTA Scheduling Debate

Her Instagram complaint about racing from a 2:40 a.m. finish to an 11 a.m. match has reignited scrutiny of how tournament schedules affect player recovery.

Aug 15, 2025; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) returns a shot against Elena Rybakina (KAZ) during the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Aug 15, 2025; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Elena Rybakina (KAZ) returns a shot against Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) during the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Aug 15, 2025; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Elena Rybakina (KAZ) serves against Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) during the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
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Overview

  • Kalinskaya overcame Ekaterina Alexandrova in a 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-1 round-of-16 match that ended after 2:30 a.m., during which she confronted the chair umpire about reportedly intoxicated spectators.
  • She revealed on Instagram that she arrived home at 2:40 a.m., slept at around 4 a.m., and was then set to play an 11 a.m. quarterfinal, characterizing the scheduling as 'unfair' and 'one sided'.
  • Despite her criticism, World No. 3 Iga Swiatek defeated Kalinskaya 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the Cincinnati semifinals, where she will face Elena Rybakina.
  • Rybakina upset top seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-1, 6-4 in the other quarterfinal, setting up the Swiatek–Rybakina semifinal matchup.
  • Analysts and fans, including ESPN’s Brad Gilbert, have cited research linking sleep loss to diminished athletic performance as they call on the WTA and tournament organizers to revise scheduling policies.