"I knew if I didn't Iga Swiatek's gonna destroy me

Anna Kalinskaya secured the most significant victory of her career by defeating the World No. 1, Iga Swiatek, in the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships. The Russian player, advancing to her inaugural WTA 1000 final, showcased dominance by swiftly dispatching Swiatek, conceding only eight games on her way to a 6-4, 6-4 triumph.

Kalinskaya made it clear during her on-court interview that she came into the contest with a set game plan in mind. The Russian said she kept her focus on staying calm and aggressive knowing very well that Swiatek, who she described as “incredible”, would "destroy" her otherwise.

“Iga Swiatek’s a great player," Anna Kalinskaya said. "I knew if I didn’t stay calm and aggressive she’s gonna destroy me."

"That was the plan. To stay aggressive. Move her a lot. I’m happy I won. She’s unbelievable. I’m happy I had the chance to play against her. I’m sure we’ll play a lot in the future,” she added.

She went on to thank her team, including her coach and father before crediting her recent results to her improved physical health.

"Yeah, definitely, I'm super happy with my team," Anna Kalinskaya said. "Thank you coach, thanks dad."

"It's a pleasure to work with them. I feel much better physically than I did last year, big respect to my fitness coach, who's watching now. That gives me a lot of confidence to play at the highest level," she added.

Anna Kalinskaya looks ahead to a title win in Dubai after Iga Swiatek upset