Ukraine returns to the BJKC semifinals: "Now we want revenge"

That Ukraine is in the semifinals of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals is news that surprises no one. What was shocking was the way they secured that ticket this morning. After the unexpected defeat of Elina Svitolina, it had to be another teammate who took the lead.

But that's what a team is about, that's what a competition of this caliber is about. One of the keys to success is always in the depth of the squad, in the possibility that a player steps up when plans don't go as expected. Anhelina Kalinina, she was the one responsible for securing the two points against a Belgium that came very close to causing an upset and advancing to the semifinals.

Kalinina shines and Ukraine holds on

The day had a name: Anhelina Kalinina. The Ukrainian played both matches for her team, five sets in total, and ended up being decisive in both singles and doubles. “It has been a long day, with a lot of tennis,” she acknowledged afterward. “I am very happy for our team because we made a collective effort and overcame this challenge,” she added. Kalinina also highlighted the level shown by Belgium and wanted to focus on the feeling of having overcome a battle that required maximum concentration.

In the second singles match, Greet Minnen surprised Elina Svitolina in three sets. The Belgian, ranked outside the top 200, delivered an outstanding performance and forced Svitolina to acknowledge that rankings do not always matter in a competition like this. “I didn't really look at the ranking; she was already a good player in the past and knows her level,” explained the Ukrainian, who particularly highlighted Minnen's serve and her ability to play well in crucial points.

Svitolina regretted not having found her best form, although she avoided dramatizing her defeat. “I don't think I played that badly; I had my chances here and there, but it didn't go my way. This is tennis,” she stated. She also pointed out other nuances of the BJK Cup, such as the influence of the bench, the captain, and the pressure of representing a country. “We already know how this works; whoever manages their emotions better wins,” she summarized.

Doubles saves the day for Ukraine 🇺🇦

Anhelina Kalinina wins both her singles and doubles matches to inspire her nation to the semi-finals 👏#BJKCup pic.twitter.com/aidx0Hvvyx

— Billie Jean King Cup (@BJKCup) September 24, 2026

With the score tied at 1-1, Ukraine turned to Kalinina again, this time paired with Nadiia Kichenok, to defeat Hanne Vandewinkel and Kimberley Zimmermann 6-3, 6-3. For Kalinina, the doubles match was also a matter of confidence and learning: “My partner is a Grand Slam champion and gave me a lot of advice. I just followed her instructions.” The Ukrainian emphasized the mental difference compared to singles: “In doubles, I have another person with me; it’s a great support. For me, it also comes down to teamwork and team spirit, but I love it,” she assessed.

The victory places Ukraine back in the semifinals. Marchenko acknowledges that the feeling is starting to change: “Last year was a historic achievement for us, so this year feels more normal. It’s good to be here and among the best teams.” The captain is already thinking about the next opponent, who will emerge from the match between Italy and China. Against the Italians, there is, moreover, a score to settle: “We lost to them last year; now we want revenge.” Whoever the opponent may be, Ukraine knows they are playing for something great again.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Ucrania vuelve a semifinales de la BJKC: "Ahora queremos la revancha"