Anna Kalinskaya explains why she never trains with other women

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It's been a long time since we talked about Anna Kalinskaya and her sporting success, but this week things might change. The Russian is currently in the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 in Doha, although she has been making headlines recently.

The strong start to the season for Anna Kalinskaya has reached its peak this week at the WTA 1000 in Doha, where she has defeated Bouzas, Navarro, and Svitolina. The Russian has reached the quarterfinals, but she has also made news due to a recent interview on Elena Vesnina's podcast. On YouTube, you can watch the hour-long chat between both tennis players, but we will highlight some specific statements captured by Championat, the media outlet that always covers all news related to Russian sports.

The news has two focal points, but if you are a regular follower of the circuit, you won't find anything surprising here. The issue revolves around training, where some players have no problem practicing with other peers, while others prefer to avoid it. So, who do they train with? With men, of course. Hence, it's challenging to find female coaches within the WTA circuit, or to see the role of a hitting partner within teams.

“I rarely train with other girls,” explains the 27-year-old player. “I like to be with my team to ensure maximum privacy among us. Once, I trained with Cathy McNally, and we had a great session together. We not only played and joked but also worked on some drills. But I admit it was unusual,” adds the Russian, a clear example of the legacy left by Maria Sharapova and her philosophy of not forming friendships on tour.

“I enjoy playing with guys and competing with them, although my coach keeps telling me to calm down in such situations,” suggests Kalinskaya, implying that the challenge of facing someone better than her is what will make her improve, just the fact of having a challenge across the net. “I get a bit upset because I can't beat the guys, of course. In the end, they are on a different level; it's like when Aryna Sabalenka played against Nick Kyrgios, so it's very difficult to compete,” she emphasizes.

What is Anna Kalinskaya's ceiling on the circuit?

Within the conversation with Vesnina, another part that drew considerable attention came when she talked about her dreams, her aspirations within professional tennis, something that has surely changed radically in the last four years. Because it's not the same to be fighting to break into the top100, a situation she was in back in 2021, as it is now, where her name is strongly tipped to break into the top10 at any moment. “Truth is, I never dreamt of winning a Grand Slam, I focus more on living in the moment,” assures the current #28 in the WTA rankings. “For me, going abroad is already fantastic; it's one of the best things in a tennis player's life, the opportunity it gives you to travel and discover new places,” she comments.

“I always felt very comfortable in Moscow; I always had everything. Suddenly, when I got my first paycheck, it was like a bonus. I never thought about it, or expected it, especially when you are 16. Now, I understand my capabilities better and know how I can grow; I see that the possibility of winning a Grand Slam is there, even though it seems distant,” concludes the Moscow-born tennis player.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Anna Kalinskaya explica por qué nunca entrena con otras mujeres