Tennis

Can Kalinskaya and Sinner Become the Next Power Couple to Triumph on the Same Weekend?After Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur's impressive double victory last week, Anna Kalinskaya and Jannik Sinner are poised to replicate their feat. The budding couple has been making headlines since their public display of affection at Roland Garros, and they are now on the cusp of achieving a significant milestone.Kalinskaya, ranked 24th in the world, has reached her first career grass-court final in Berlin. She overcame Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka in consecutive matches, showcasing her resilience and determination. Her boyfriend, Sinner, has also secured a spot in the Terra Wortmann Open final, marking his first grass-court final appearance.In a post-match interview, Kalinskaya expressed her admiration for Sinner's accomplishments and her desire to emulate his success. "I'm just trying to be a little bit as good as him," she said with a smile. "He's had an amazing year."Kalinskaya's victory on Sunday would be particularly significant as it would be her first WTA tour singles title. She has never reached a final before, making this an even more momentous occasion. Her opponent in the final will be either Coco Gauff, whom she defeated in Dubai, or Jessica Pegula.The potential for Kalinskaya and Sinner to become the next power couple to triumph on the same weekend is tantalizing. Their love and support for each other could provide the motivation and inspiration they need to reach the pinnacle of their respective sports.

Jannik Sinner, the newly crowned world No. 1, has continued his impressive form on grass, reaching the semifinals of the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, Germany. The Italian star defeated Jan-Lennard Struff in a thrilling three-set battle, 6-2, 6-7 (1), 7-6 (3).Sinner, who won the Australian Open earlier this year, has now improved to 3-0 against Struff, having beaten him twice in straight sets in 2024. The 22-year-old looked sharp from the start, breaking Struff's serve twice in the opening set to take it in just 30 minutes.However, Struff fought back in the second set, saving a break point in the fourth game and forcing a tiebreaker. The German dominated the tiebreaker, winning the first four points and converting his first set point to level the match.Sinner regained control in the decider, creating two break points in the ninth game. Struff saved both, but Sinner remained relentless. In the final-set tiebreaker, Sinner raced to a 3-0 lead and eventually converted his second match point to seal the victory after two hours and 29 minutes.Sinner's victory sets up a semifinal clash with either American Christopher Eubanks or China's Zhang Zhizhen, who upset former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev earlier in the week. Sinner will be aiming to reach his fourth final of the season, having already won titles in Montpellier, Rotterdam, and Dubai.

Zhang Zhizhen, the world No. 42, stunned former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (5) to reach the quarterfinals of the Terra Wortmann Open.The match was a tale of two sets, with Medvedev dominating the second set after Zhang had taken the first. However, Zhang showed his resilience in the third set, breaking back after Medvedev had taken an early lead and then holding on through a dramatic tenth game to force a tiebreaker.In the tiebreaker, Zhang trailed 2-4 at the change of ends but fought back to win four of the next five points and clinch the victory.The win is a major upset for Zhang, who had never beaten a top-five player before. It is also a significant result for Chinese tennis, as Zhang is the first Chinese player to reach the quarterfinals of an ATP Tour event on grass.Zhang's victory is a testament to his hard work and dedication. He has been working hard to improve his game on grass, and it is now paying off. He is a dangerous player on any surface, and he will be a threat to win any tournament he enters.

Jannik Sinner's debut as the ATP's world No. 1 was a hard-fought battle against Tallon Griekspoor at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, Germany. Despite a disappointing end to the opening set, Sinner emerged victorious with a 6-7 (8), 6-3, 6-2 triumph.The match was a tale of two halves, with Griekspoor valiantly overcoming a 1-5 deficit in the tie-break to take the first set. However, Sinner's resilience shone through in the second set, as he recovered from 0-40 down on his serve and hustled to make a forehand pass winner.The pivotal moment came at 2-2 in the second set, when Sinner side-somersaulted to finish a diving movement for 4-2. This crucial point shifted the momentum in Sinner's favor, and he went on to protect his serve the rest of the way.In the deciding set, Sinner broke Griekspoor two more times before closing out the encounter with his 15th ace. The 22-year-old Italian reflected on the match, acknowledging the mental challenges he faced but also his ability to regain confidence on the grass surface.Sinner's victory sets up a quarterfinal clash with Fabian Marozsan, as he aims to lift his first grass-court trophy. The Italian's all-around performance, including his impressive serve and aggressive groundstrokes, bodes well for his chances in the tournament.

Andrey Rublev, the 26-year-old Russian tennis star, finds solace and tranquility in the serene ambiance of the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, Germany. After the hustle and bustle of major cities like Madrid, Rome, and Paris, Rublev seeks refuge in the picturesque surroundings of Halle, where grazing cows and a majestic mountain backdrop replace the cacophony of urban life."It's a nice moment to rest mentally before I go to London," Rublev confides. "Here, it's a nice place to stay calm for a week, focus only on tennis, to recover. It's really quiet, really peaceful here."Beyond the tranquility, Halle offers another allure for Rublev: the sauna at his hotel.Rublev's journey in Halle began eight years ago when he was an 18-year-old aspiring player. Today, he is a 16-time ATP champion with two Masters 1000 titles and a consistent presence in the Top 10. Despite his accomplishments, Rublev remains grounded and finds it hard to believe how time has flown by."It doesn't feel like it at all. Looks like it's been just last year," he says. "But it's tough to realize that it's been eight years because in my head, eight years is a big number that means you have a lot of changes in life, or in general. For the moment, body wise, I feel like eight years ago."After a disappointing exit from the French Open, Rublev quickly shifted his focus to Halle. He took two days off before resuming intense training to prepare for the switch to grass."We start to practice full because we decided that it'll be the only short 10 days that we can work before it will be grass season," he explains. "Because on grass, I will not have much time to do good practices. These days I can really focus to build a little bit of game, so I was playing every day and then I came here."Rublev boasts a career 19-8 record on grass. On Tuesday, he will open his Halle campaign against Marcos Giron.