Kalinskaya Knocks Out Svitolina; No Handshake at US Open

Kalinskaya Takes Control With Early Breaks

Anna Kalinskaya produced one of the standout results of the 2026 US Open on Saturday, eliminating ninth seed Elina Svitolina 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 in the third round at Flushing Meadows. The 21st seed from Russia controlled the decisive sets with composed, aggressive tennis to advance to the Round of 16 at a US Open for the first time in her career.

Kalinskaya applied pressure from the outset, breaking Svitolina's serve early in the first set and maintaining the lead to take it 6-3. The Ukrainian struggled to match the Russian's tempo in that opening phase, her usually reliable counter-punching failing to neutralise Kalinskaya's flat ball-striking from the baseline. Kalinskaya moved through the opener efficiently and without dropping serve after securing the early break.

Svitolina Levels Before Losing the Decider

The second set swung decisively in Svitolina's direction. She found her range and began winning the physical baseline exchanges she had lost in the opener, breaking to establish control and taking the set 6-2. The response underlined why the ninth seed remains one of the tour's most respected competitors: her ability to reset and grind back into matches is a defining characteristic of her career. With the match level heading into a decider, Svitolina looked capable of completing the reversal.

Kalinskaya had other ideas. She returned to the aggressive approach that had worked so effectively in the first set, broke early in the third and did not allow Svitolina back into contention, closing out 6-3. The match lasted just over two hours. Kalinskaya's ability to reproduce first-set quality when it mattered most in the third was the defining quality of the win.

No Handshake as Geopolitical Reality Surfaces

As much attention followed the post-match moment as the match itself. Kalinskaya and Svitolina did not exchange the customary handshake at the net — a scene that has become a recurring feature of encounters between Russian and Ukrainian players on tour since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Svitolina has publicly declined to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian opponents at Grand Slam events throughout that period and has spoken openly about her reasons for doing so. That position remained in place in New York on Saturday.

WTAZverev clinches year-end No. 1, a first for a German player

The moment drew immediate reaction from commentators and on social media. Neither player addressed the subject publicly at the court immediately after the match concluded.

A Draw That Continues to Open Up

Svitolina's exit is the latest seeded departure from a top half of the WTA draw that has grown increasingly unpredictable. Seventh seed Karolína Muchová was beaten by Emma Navarro 6-3, 7-5 earlier on Saturday, meaning two top-ten seeds have departed the same section of the draw on the same day. Kalinskaya now enters the Round of 16 of the 2026 US Open as one of several lower-ranked players capable of a deep run.

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champion, marched through her own third-round match and remains the clear title favourite. Jessica Pegula also advanced in three sets. The Round of 16 line-up on the women's side is now set, with Kalinskaya, Navarro and several other lower seeds among those who have capitalised on a draw disrupted early by major upsets.