Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

“Not The Result I Wanted” – Anna Kalinskaya Crashes in Citi DC Final, but the Comeback Fire Still Burns

The Russian's first final of 2025 ends in a one-sided loss to Fernandez, but signs of a comeback remain unmistakable.

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Anna Kalinskaya’s dream run at the 2025 Citi DC Open came to a halt on Sunday, as she fell to Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in a one-sided 6-1, 6-2 final. The Russian, who had not dropped a set all week, struggled to find any rhythm against the left-hander, marking a bitter end to what was her first WTA final appearance of the season.

After the loss, Kalinskaya shared on her Instagram, “What a week it’s been in DC🙂‍↔️ not the the result I wanted but still making the final is a nice feeling 💪🏽🥈 soon ✈️ 🇨🇦”

Anna Kalinskaya after losing to Leylah Fernandez in Washington final

“It’s been a pleasure to play in front of you all. I want to congratulate Leylah. Amazing fight this week. You truly deserve it. See you soon, maybe next week we’ll play each other. You never know” 😂 pic.twitter.com/IiOkt8HbLI
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 27, 2025

Injury Breaks, Mental Battles, and the Fight to Compete Again

Kalinskaya had looked sharp throughout the week in Washington, dismissing the likes of Kamilla Rakhimova, Magda Linette, Clara Tauson, and Emma Raducanu with ease. But the title match painted a different picture.

Fernandez broke Kalinskaya four times in just over 70 minutes and dictated play with relentless depth and precision. Kalinskaya, meanwhile, landed just nine winners to 24 unforced errors and won only two of her 12 second-serve points, an area where she was clearly outclassed.

Anna Kalinskaya thanks her team (including Bella 😉) in her D.C. runner's up speech.#MubadalaDCCitiOpen pic.twitter.com/tHjsibCQ9j
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 27, 2025

“Yeah, it was very tricky for me. I couldn’t find my rhythm at all,” Kalinskaya admitted after the match when asked about facing a left-hander for the first time in over a year. “I felt great the last couple of days, but today was left-handed, and I tried to remember when was the last time I played left-handed. I think maybe last one was Haddad Maia. So I don’t really have anyone who I can hit with left-handed. It’s very difficult to find. There are not too many. It was definitely an issue for me today.”

Still, the result capped a much-needed strong week for the 26-year-old, whose 2025 season has been defined more by injuries than match play. She withdrew from Melbourne due to illness, retired from Singapore with a thigh injury, and was forced to walk over in both Adelaide and Strasbourg.

Anna Kalinskaya’a dog runs on the court for the 2nd day in a row to celebrate with her after her win over Emma Raducanu to reach the Washington final

Puppy support is the best support. 🥹🐶

pic.twitter.com/KdlZAKbQ1O
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 26, 2025

Regardless of the setbacks, Kalinskaya continues to carve out a solid resume. A 2024 Australian Open quarterfinalist, she owns four WTA doubles titles, including a notable 2025 Madrid Open victory with Sorana Cirstea. She also has a WTA Challenger singles title and has collected a combined 16 titles on the ITF Circuit.

“You truly deserve it,” Kalinskaya told Fernandez at the trophy ceremony. But make no mistake, if Kalinskaya stays healthy, she has the potential to push for titles. Up next, she faces Ann Li at the 2025 National Bank Open in Toronto, Canada.

Mandatory Image Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

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Anna Kalinskaya

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Rudra Dubey

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I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.