Is Kalinina flying on the Moroccan clay?

Anhelina Kalinina, 29 years old, right-handed, world No. 93 and former No. 25, arrives in Rabat in the best clay form of her recent career. Thirty wins for nine losses in 2026 on all surfaces, two titles in Antalya, two additional finals: she is in the process of rebuilding a machine that the 2025 injury had brought to a halt. On this fast, dry clay at the Club des Cheminots, her heavy return game and her ability to create break points at a rate higher than any of her opponents today will be her main weapons. The only head-to-head between the two players dates back to 2021 on the ITF circuit, on clay: Kalinina won 6–2 6–2.

Simona Waltert, 25 years old, right-handed, world No. 91, is having a balanced 2026 season with 15 wins and 14 losses. The Swiss player coached by Stéphane Bohli is capable of raising her level in spurts, as she showed by coming through qualifying in Rome before beating Starodubtseva in the next round. But her 2026 clay statistics are lower on every metric compared to Kalinina, especially on return and in pressure moments, and her historical record against top-100 players at WTA level remains shaky at 31% over the course of her career. On a surface as fast as in Rabat, Kalinina’s profile is quite simply better suited.