Jannik Sinner’s Ex-Girlfriend Anna Kalinskaya Makes Wild Claim About Holger Rune’s Persistent Messages to Her

On September 9, 2025, Russian tennis star Anna Kalinskaya, ranked world No. 32, sent shockwaves through the tennis community with a candid revelation about ATP player Holger Rune during an interview on the First&Red channel with former pro Anna Chakvetadze. Kalinskaya, the former girlfriend of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, claimed that Rune, the 22-year-old Danish star ranked No. 11, persistently messaged her “around 10 times” in an attempt to ask her out, only to be rebuffed. Her pointed remarks, including a jab that Rune “writes to everyone” and “thinks too much of himself,” have sparked a firestorm, amplified by a similar accusation from Veronika Kudermetova and fueling intense debate about Rune’s off-court behavior.

The Interview: Kalinskaya Names Names

During the First&Red interview, Chakvetadze asked Kalinskaya if she frequently received romantic advances from fellow players. Her response was unfiltered: “Tennis players, more often before. Now I’m older, I don’t know. For some, it’s just no chance at all. No need to write. Someone wrote like 10 times and then gave up. I’ll say it now: Holger Rune,” she said, laughing, as reported by Sportskeeda. She added, “He writes to everyone. He deserves all this. He thinks too much of himself. Maybe he is just that hopeless, but he is not the only one.” Kalinskaya noted she typically leaves such messages unread, quipping, “Now he’ll be happy that I even saw it” (Yardbarker).

Her comments echo a similar revelation from Veronika Kudermetova, the world No. 26, who disclosed in August 2025 on a podcast with Elena Vesnina that Rune had texted her, unaware she was married. “Rune recently texted me. I told him, ‘Boy, I’m probably too old for you. If you looked at my Instagram, you’d see I have a husband,’” Kudermetova said, adding that Rune apologized but now avoids her at tournaments (Sportskeeda). The back-to-back accusations have cast Rune as a persistent suitor, prompting a mix of amusement and criticism.

Rune’s Rebuttal and Social Media Frenzy

Rune swiftly responded via a statement reported by Daily Mail, denying that his messages to Kalinskaya were “an invitation to a date.” He offered no further details, leaving room for speculation. Social media erupted, with X posts amplifying the drama. @lildarkcage wrote, “Anna Kalinskaya says Holger Rune wrote to her 10 times and then gave up 🤣🤣🤣 ‘He writes to everyone, it seems…He thinks too much of himself…’😂💀” (post:0). @UniversTennis posted in French, “Anna Kalinskaya BALANCE sur Holger Rune 😭 ‘He wrote to me in DM at least 10 times before giving up. He sends messages to everyone. Maybe he’s just desperate’ 💀” (post:2). @barstoolsports added, “Anna Kalinskaya spills the tea on Holger Rune hitting her DMs multiple times 😭” (post:6). The posts reflect a divide, with some fans mocking Rune and others defending his boldness as a young star.

Kalinskaya’s claim that Rune “writes to everyone” has fueled perceptions of overconfidence, building on his reputation for fiery on-court antics, including verbal spats with opponents like Stan Wawrinka in 2023 (ProFootballNetwork). Rune, previously linked to Dutch-Italian real estate agent Carolina Donzella in 2023, has not publicly addressed his current relationship status, but his camp framed the messages as a misunderstanding (Daily Mail).

Kalinskaya’s Context: Life After Sinner

Kalinskaya’s bombshell comes amid heightened scrutiny following her breakup with Jannik Sinner, confirmed during the Italian Open in May 2025 after Sinner’s three-month doping suspension (People). The couple, who went public at the 2024 French Open and shared a kiss after Sinner’s US Open win, cited career pressures as the reason for their split (Yahoo Sports). Kalinskaya, who reached a career-high WTA ranking of No. 11 in 2025, competed at the US Open, losing to Iga Swiatek in the fourth round (6-4, 6-3) on September 2, 2025 (Men’s Journal). In July, she confirmed to Flaunt Magazine that she is dating someone new but kept their identity private, adding intrigue to her Rune revelation (Sportskeeda).

Her outspokenness aligns with past instances, such as her 2020 Instagram Live where she called ex-boyfriend Nick Kyrgios a “bad person” after their brief romance (Daily Mail). Kalinskaya’s willingness to name Rune publicly reflects her no-nonsense persona, with fans on X praising her for “spilling the tea” and bringing levity to tennis’s off-court narratives (post:6). However, her comments also highlight the disproportionate scrutiny female players face regarding their personal lives, as she noted, “Guys are more focused on their results, but for women it’s a bit more about personal stuff” (Yardbarker).

Rune’s Reputation and Tennis Trajectory

Rune’s 2025 season has been a mix of brilliance and controversy. He reached the French Open semi-finals, defeating Novak Djokovic and Sinner, and climbed to a career-high No. 4 in 2023 before settling at No. 11 by September 2025 (ProFootballNetwork). His aggressive style and occasional on-court outbursts have made him a polarizing figure, and Kalinskaya’s claims add fuel to the narrative. Kudermetova’s earlier accusation suggests a pattern, with Rune reportedly avoiding her at tournaments, which may now extend to Kalinskaya (Sportskeeda).

The controversy draws parallels to other tennis dramas, such as Carlos Alcaraz’s tattoo debates with his parents post-US Open or Luke Littler’s “disrespectful” dart-throwing incident in Australia. Yet, Rune’s talent remains undeniable, with fans on X defending him: “Holger’s just young and shooting his shot, give him a break” (post:0). His upcoming events, including the Laver Cup (September 19-21, 2025) alongside Alcaraz, could see him face added scrutiny, especially if he crosses paths with Kalinskaya or Kudermetova.

A Spicy Chapter in Tennis

Anna Kalinskaya’s wild claim about Holger Rune’s persistent messages has ignited a juicy off-court saga, amplified by her split from Sinner and Kudermetova’s similar story. As Rune denies the dating intent and fans debate his actions, the incident underscores the personal dynamics that fuel tennis’s appeal. Kalinskaya, preparing for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals (November 16-21, 2025), and Rune, eyeing a strong Asian swing, are unlikely to let the drama derail their focus. Yet, with X buzzing and the tennis world watching, this spicy exchange promises to linger as a talking point in their next encounters.