"Very frustrating & very sad" - Anna Kalinskaya laments Wimbledon injury retirement, clarifies what happened leading to decision
Anna Kalinskaya has expressed her disappointment after retiring mid-match during her Wimbledon 2024 fourth-round clash against 2022 champion Elena Rybakina on Monday, July 8. Kalinskaya was down a set and 0-3 in the second when she decided to stop playing due to a wrist injury she picked up during the match.
Kalinskaya got off to a bright start in the first set against Rybakina. However, just when it felt like the World No. 18 was about to take charge of proceedings, she complained of a wrist problem. Despite receiving treatment, Kalinskaya's game was clearly affected and Rybakina eventually turned things around in her favor before clinching the set 6-3.
The Kazakh continued to capitalize on the injury-stricken Russian at the start of the second set, racing to a 3-0 lead. At this point, Kalinskaya chose to stop playing through pain, sealing Rybakina's progress to the quarterfinals at the prestigious grasscourt Major for a third straight year.
After leaving the court, the World No. 18 attended a press conference where she laid bare how badly the injury led to her game's rapid deterioration.
"It was affecting me a lot. My serve and the first ball.. after the serve, because I was feeling a bit numb. It affected me quite a lot. I thought it would go away but it didn’t. So I decided to stop because I wasn’t feeling any better," Kalinskaya said.
The Russian went on to express her frustration and sadness at the way things turned out because the Wimbledon Championships is her favorite tournament.
"It’s very frustrating and very sad. It’s probably my favorite tournament. But I’m a human and I can’t fully control my body. I have to accept it and just find out what’s going on right now and just recover and try to prevent it in the future," Kalinskaya added.
Anna Kalinskaya's mid-match retirement left boyfriend Jannik Sinner looking somber in her box
Anna Kalinskaya appeared to be trying to hide her sadness after deciding to retire. However, it was seemingly all the more evident as she could barely look up to acknowledge the Centre Court crowd, who roared in applause for her as she made her way out.
Meanwhile, the Russian's boyfriend, ATP World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who was watching things unfold from her box, wore a serious look, clearly concerned for Kalinskaya's well-being.
Sinner's own singles campaign at SW19 is still going strong. The reigning Australian Open champion is through to the quarterfinals, where he is set to face No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev, who the Italian defeated in the riveting final in Melbourne.