DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iga Swiatek was upset by qualifier Anna Kalinskaya 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals of the Dubai Championships after the world No. 1 squandered an early lead on Friday.
Swiatek was up 4-2 when Kalinskaya rattled off four straight games to take the first set en route to her third consecutive victory over a Top 10 opponent.
Kalinskaya eliminated No. 3 Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals and No. 9 Jelena Ostapenko in the last 16.
“I feel physically much better than last year. That gives me a lot of confidence to play at such a high level,” Kalinskaya said in her on-court interview.
The 40th-ranked Kalinskaya said the key to beating Swiatek was to stay calm—yet aggressive.
“I know if I don’t stay calm and I don’t stay aggressive she is going to destroy me,” Kalinskaya said. “That was my plan—to stay aggressive and move her a lot. She’s unbelievable. I’m happy I had the chance to play against her.”
She will face Jasmine Paolini on Saturday in the biggest final of both their careers.