Adelaide: “I didn’t want to win this way” – Anna Kalinskaya retires injured, qualifer Belinda Bencic makes classy act

Current world No. 421, Belinda Bencic, continues her impressive run at the Adelaide International as a qualifier, after No. 7 seed Anna Kalinskaya was forced to retire due to injury during their match.

What was anticipated to be a closely contested showdown quickly turned into a one-sided affair. Bencic broke Kalinskaya’s serve early, then again in the seventh game, before closing out the first set with ease. The Swiss player maintained control in the second set, securing another break in the opening game.

Kalinskaya, who appeared to be struggling throughout the match, ultimately decided to retire after the first game of the second set, conceding victory to Bencic.

Earlier in the tournament, Bencic secured wins over Moyuka Uchijima and Laura Siegemund in the qualifying rounds. Her next opponent will be Liudmila Samsonova in the round of 16 at the WTA 500 tournament in Adelaide.

Bencic’s Message to Kalinskaya: “I didn’t want to win this way”

After the match, Bencic offered a thoughtful message to Kalinskaya, wishing her a speedy recovery. “I wish Anna all the best. Hopefully she’s ready for the Australian Open. It’s not the way I wanted to win, but I felt good out there. I want to thank everyone for the support. I heard some cheers from all of you, so thank you,” the 27-year-old said in her on-court interview.

Bencic, who returned to the tour after giving birth in late 2024, remains cautious about setting high expectations for herself, despite her strong performance in Adelaide.

“My expectations are very low for now. This is one of my first tournaments coming back. I didn’t even think I’d be here—comeback was faster than I expected. But I really just want to enjoy it,” Bencic shared.

“Physically, I can still improve every day and continue working on my tennis. You never stop learning. Hopefully, I can climb back up in the rankings.”