Gabriela really lives up to her name!

Interesting match and not that one-sided after all!

On paper, you naturally feel like leaning towards the Russian. With a profile that’s both aggressive and defensive, Kalinskaya, whose attitude some see as a bit haughty, actually hides a mindset that’s extremely anchored in the present moment. Nothing is ever very serious for her, and she almost always manages to take a step back, even when she’s being outplayed. Maybe sometimes a bit too much. She remains, however, a formidable opponent on hard courts.

The Romanian Ruse is clearly underrated, always in the underdog role. She has great technical experience and is gradually getting back to her very good 2021 level. Her game adapts a lot to her opponent, with great reading, and she’s comfortable on all surfaces. Her start to the season is confirmed, and she ended the previous one with a title on hard. A good serve and a player who’s not easy to break.

The Russian has mentioned serious goals for the Australian Open, and this kind of tournament just before a Grand Slam can sometimes be approached a bit more lightly. A golden opportunity for Gabriela… but for now, it still remains pure speculation in my head 🙂