2023-05-19 23:12:22
Anhelina Kalinina in the final of the Rome tennis tournament, a “little light” for Ukraine
Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina hopes to have offered a “little light” to her country with her victory – the most prestigious of her career – against Russian Veronika Kudermetova on Friday in the semi-finals of the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome (7-5, 5-7, 6-2). She will challenge in the final, Saturday, the Kazakhstani Elena Rybakina (6e world player).
“It’s really important to win every game, because of what Ukraine is going through”launched the 47e world player after dominating the Russian, 12e world.
“We didn’t shake hands because this girl is from Russia”, she explained an hour later at a press conference. Kudermetova refrained from getting involved in the non-sporting field: “We are athletes and that’s it”said the Russian.
“My whole family is now in Kyiv. Near where they work – my mum and dad are tennis coaches – there was a huge bomb near the tennis courts. 300 meters away, there was an airport, there is no longer an airport. It’s their life now.”said the Ukrainian, very moved.
She also explained that her grandparents recently had to leave Nova Kakhovka, near Kherson, after their town was occupied by the Russian army: “They are very old, it was a very difficult decision for them, it’s not normal life”she pointed out.
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