Anna Kalinskaya produced a commanding performance to defeat Emma Raducanu 6-4, 6-3 in the semi-finals of the Washington Open, securing her place in the final where she will face Canada’s Leylah Fernandez.
Raducanu had not dropped a set throughout the tournament heading into the match, but Kalinskaya’s consistency and sharp hitting disrupted the Briton’s rhythm. Both players started strong, exchanging powerful baseline rallies, but it was the Russian who secured the first break at 5-4 and confidently served out the opening set.
In the second set, the momentum swung back and forth briefly. Raducanu broke early to raise hopes of a comeback, but Kalinskaya responded immediately. The world No 48 stepped up her intensity and regained control, breaking once more to close out the match in straight sets.
The defeat ended Raducanu’s hopes of a rematch with Fernandez, whom she famously defeated in the 2021 US Open final. Instead, Kalinskaya will now go in search of her first WTA 500 title. Speaking after the match, she expressed satisfaction with her performance and noted how crucial it was to stick to her aggressive game plan.
Fernandez, meanwhile, earned her spot in the final after an epic three-set battle against third seed Elena Rybakina. The match was a test of resilience and mental toughness, lasting over three hours and featuring three tie-break sets.
Rybakina edged the first set after gaining the upper hand in a close tiebreak, but Fernandez mounted a determined fightback in the second. Although she dropped her serve early, she broke back late and forced another tiebreak, which she claimed to level the match.
The third set saw both players hold serve throughout, but Fernandez gradually began to take more control in the key moments. Her confidence grew as the match wore on, and she dominated the final tiebreak to complete a remarkable comeback victory.
Now set for a showdown between two aggressive baseliners, the final promises to be a thrilling contest. Kalinskaya will be aiming to cap off her impressive run with a title, while Fernandez looks to build on her first final appearance of the season.
