In a grueling and emotional quarterfinals match at the Italian Open, Anhelina Kalinina triumphed over Beatriz Haddad Maia in the longest WTA match of the season. Maia left the court in tears and received a standing ovation following her heartbreaking loss after three hours and 41 minutes of play.
Injury timeout and strong comebacks
During the first set, Maia called for a medical timeout to address an issue in her left leg when Kalinina was leading 5-2. The Brazilian player returned with determination and secured four consecutive games, ultimately winning the set in a tiebreak. Kalinina mounted a powerful comeback in the second set tiebreak to level the scores.
Struggling with consistency
While Maia started the final set strong, taking an early 3-0 lead, maintaining her consistency became difficult. Kalinina kept her composure, gaining the last six games and winning the match 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-3. This victory propelled her to the most significant semifinal appearance of her career.
Emotional reactions and physical exhaustion
Both players expressed strong emotions after the match, with Maia visibly in tears and Kalinina looking overwhelmed as she waved to the crowd. In a post-match interview, Kalinina commented on the physical toll the game took on her, stating, “It feels great, but I can’t feel my body or my legs.” She credited her success to the combined efforts of her coach, fitness coach, and herself.
