Jelena Ostapenko dominated Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-2 at the Foro Italico on Monday to secure her spot in the Italian Open 2026 quarterfinals. The former French Open champion’s clinical performance on Rome’s clay courts marked her first career victory over the Russian, ending a four-match losing streak in their head-to-head series.
The victory signaled a major shift in the rivalry. Before their Italian Open face-off, Ostapenko trailed 0-4 in their career matchups, though that deficit didn’t seem to bother her.
“I honestly didn’t really care much,” Ostapenko told the WTA Tour afterward. “I know I’m a better player.”
The atmosphere in Rome grew touchy during the first set when Kalinskaya took an off-court medical timeout while Ostapenko remained unfazed by the delay. She later noted she prepared for “all kinds of simulations” intended to disrupt her rhythm on the Italian Open clay.
“She’s a tricky player that is trying to get you out of the rhythm when she starts losing,” Ostapenko said. “I’m really proud of myself, the way I was able to manage all that, losing three games and playing a really good match.”
Ostapenko vs. Kalinskaya Italian Open Handshake Controversy
The tension between the two competitors peaked during the final point of the Italian Open match. After hitting a forehand volley into the net, Kalinskaya bypassed the traditional handshake. She shook the umpire’s hand instead and walked straight to her chair. This snub follows a similarly cold exchange between the two in Dubai earlier this year. Ostapenko has a storied history of high-profile incidents and “no-look” handshakes, too, but she maintained her composure in Rome to close out the win.
"Notice the frost on the fingers." – Mary Carillo
@DKasatkina def.Jelena #Ostapenko on Day 6.
The post-match handshake? ICY.#USOpen pic.twitter.com/n16FAW169G
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) September 3, 2017
“I know that I can be emotional on court,” the Latvian star said regarding the skipped handshake. “But at the end of the day, I respect the other players.”
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