Xinyu Wang secures first Melbourne win since 2023 with dominant performance over Kalinina
Xinyu Wang won against Anhelina Kalinina 6-3, 6-3 on Tuesday
Wang Xinyu
Xinyu Wang, currently the highest-ranked Chinese woman in the draw at world number 43, delivered a confident performance on Tuesday night to defeat Ukrainian qualifier Anhelina Kalinina 6-3, 6-3. The victory marks a significant breakthrough for Wang, as it is her first match win at the Australian Open since 2023, following consecutive first-round exits in 2024 and 2025.
Playing in front of an electric crowd that offered what was described as insane support, Wang utilized her aggressive baseline game to dictate play throughout the contest. Her win over Kalinina, who had navigated through the qualifying rounds to reach the main draw, continues a strong start to the 2026 season for the Chinese star.
Wang 6-2 in 2026
Wang currently holds a 6-2 record this year, a run highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Auckland Classic earlier this month.
With this result, Wang moves into the round of 64 where she faces a potentially high-profile challenge. She will play the winner of the opening-round match between Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova and the 24th seed, Jelena Ostapenko. For Wang, the clinical nature of this opening victory serves as a strong foundation for her bid to reach the second week of a major for the first time in Melbourne.
