Russian qualifier Kalinskaya stuns top seed Swiatek in Dubai to reach first full WTA Tour final

Russian qualifier Anna Kalinskaya continued her dream week as she beat top seed Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-4 to reach the final of the Dubai Open WTA 1000 event on Friday.

The 25-year-old Kalinskaya, ranked No 40, followed up her wins over Jelena Ostapenko and Coco Gauff with another outstanding performance as she took out the world No 1, who won the title last weekend in Doha. The Russian will play Italian Jasmine Paolini for the title.

“She’s a great player,” said Kalinskaya, who came from 4-2 down in the first set and who held off a brave fightback from Swiatek in the second. “I knew if I didn’t stay calm and play aggressive, she would destroy me. I’m happy I was able to do that.”

Kalinskaya holds off Swiatek in second set

Swiatek led 4-2 in the first set but made too many unforced errors as Kalinskaya picked up where she left off against Gauff in the previous round.

At 6-4, 5-2, 40-15, the match looked over but Swiatek rallied impressively, breaking back and then having two chances to level at 5-5. But Kalinskaya came up with some bold play to save them and then finished things off with a superb drive volley.

Ahead of her victory, the Russian won against Australian qualifier Storm Hunter (6-1, 6-2), Spanish lucky loser Cristina Bucsa (6-3, 6-4), Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, the No 9 seed (6-4, 7-5) and American Coco Gauff, the No 3 seed (2-6, 6-4, 6-2).

Swiatek, ranked No 1, defeated American Sloane Stephens (6-4, 6-4), Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, the No 15 seed (6-1, 6-4) and Chinese Qinwen Zheng, the No 6 seed (6-3, 6-2) earlier in the tournament.

Dubai WTA 1000, other semi-final result (The Aviation Club Tennis Centre, hard, USD 3.211.715):

• Jasmine Paolini beat Sorana Cirstea: 6-2, 7-6 (6)