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2w ago

Swiatek and Rybakina Book Cincinnati Semifinals as Kalinskaya Blasts Scheduling

Kalinskaya’s Instagram critique of her 11 am slot after a 2:30 am finish has reignited debates over player recovery, scheduling fairness, spectator conduct.

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

  • Iga Swiatek defeated Anna Kalinskaya 6-3, 6-4 to reach her first WTA 1000 semi-final in 15 months in Cincinnati.
  • Elena Rybakina upset defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-1, 6-4 with 11 aces and an 81 percent first-serve win rate to set up a Swiatek semi-final.
  • Kalinskaya’s social-media post condemned her 11 am quarterfinal slot after she finished her round-of-16 match at 2:30 am, underscoring the toll of late-night play on recovery.
  • A viral clip showed Kalinskaya pausing to complain of “drunk” spectators during her late-night win over Ekaterina Alexandrova, renewing scrutiny of crowd behaviour.
  • The quarter-final shocks and scheduling row have intensified discussions on WTA event timing, athlete welfare and the balance between commercial demands and fair rest ahead of the US Open.