The 25-year-old traveled to Doha for training, as he usually does occasionally when the WTA tournament calendar allows him.
But this time it was different: Seven days later, Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine, and since then Kalinina has been banned from going home and seeing her family.
“I left like any sensible person,” said the world’s 36th racket on the sidelines of his participation in the French “Roland Garros”, the second Grand Slam tournament.
But he didn’t realize that over the next three months he would have to live in a suitcase, move from one hotel to another, travel from the Persian Gulf to the US and then back to Europe.
Of course, “Grabe. I will just move course to course, from hotel to hotel. I don’t always have a place to stay, ”she added:“ I used to live and train in Kyiv. I went there every two days. or three weeks and I’ll spend two weeks there when I can. ” But “Now we’re jumping from one country to another. Yes, seriously. ”
The Dutch cycle Suhrtochenbos will be the next stop on his ongoing journey.
At his home in Kyiv, his mother, father and 18-year-old brother are still alive, and his home escaped Russian missiles, he said, explaining: “My parents’ apartment was partially damaged and my uncle’s house was completely destroyed. … I can’t imagine what it is. Kuya. He’s only 18 and I can’t explain what he’s going through. ”
Tennis has been his only goal and his only way to occupy himself in something far removed from the horrible wars his country has been going through since Russia’s continued invasion until now and whose focus has now shifted to complete takeover of Donbass, an industrial basin partially controlled by pro-Russian separatists since 2014., after unsuccessful attempts to capture Kyiv and Kharkov.
The Ukrainian reached the quarterfinals of the tournaments in Charleston and Madrid, after defeating three major world champions, American Sloane Stevens, Spaniard Garbine Mugurosa and Briton Emma Radokano, allowing him to enter the top 40 clubs of the WTA Ranking .
But not everything is so important, as he admits: “I can’t regain my strength, and sometimes I feel bad. I’m tired of muscles. ”
According to him, the forced departure from Rome and Strasbourg gave him the opportunity to stay in one place for more than a few days for the first time in three months. At home with your family and where you always live. ”
He continued, “I haven’t lived abroad yet, but I know I have no choice. Everyone is suffering. ”
The Ukrainian, who had not yet won a professional title as Budapest made its first WTA final last year, will not last long in Paris until he is back on the road following his departure from singles and doubles in Oba. Roland Garros.
It hasn’t been easy taking four losses this season at the hands of one player, American Jessica Pegula, but on Thursday she fought furiously before being eliminated in the second round, losing 1-6, 5-7, 4-6.
Now the Dutch Sürtochenbos tournament will be the next stop on his regular journey before he travels with his friend to London for Wimbledon, the third major tournament, and then to North America for the hard court season.
And the rest is “I ask myself every day: when am I going home again? But I don’t see an opportunity now. ”
Source: Al-Akhbar
