In a thrilling finale at the WTA 125 tournament in Limoges, Anhelina Kalinina made a remarkable return to professional tennis, clinching the title after a six-month break due to a right arm injury. The former World No. 25 showcased her skills and determination, echoing her past success at this event where she emerged victorious in 2022.
Kalinina’s journey back to the court wasn’t straightforward. She last competed at the Bari WTA 125 in early June, where she unfortunately had to retire in the first round against Iryna Shymanovich. This absence caused her ranking to plummet from No. 96 to No. 155 just last week. However, her extraordinary performance in Limoges propelled her back up the rankings, landing her at No. 127 after defeating several tough opponents.
Throughout the tournament, Kalinina faced four consecutive players ranked within the Top 100, including notable victories against Britain’s Sonay Kartal, the fourth seed, Alycia Parks from the United States, who was seeded fifth, and ultimately overcoming the top seed, Cristina Bucsa, alongside the second seed, France’s Elsa Jacquemot. Bucsa and Jacquemot illustrated their own impressive form, having reached the finals of Limoges in 2023, marking them both at career highs this week as well. Bucsa climbed to a new personal best of No. 51, while Jacquemot, making her third overall final appearance of the year, also edged up to No. 56.
Additionally, Germany’s Anna-Lena Friedsam, who reached her second consecutive WTA 125 semi-final at Limoges, saw her ranking improve by 16 spots to No. 154, emphasizing the competitive nature of this tournament.
In the doubles event, Zhang Shuai and Cristina Bucsa emerged as champions, showcasing their teamwork and strategic prowess in a decisive win against finalists Elsa Jacquemot and Jessika Ponchet. With the conclusion of the WTA 125 season, the tournament in Limoges not only highlighted Kalinina’s successful comeback but also marked significant advancements in player rankings, setting the stage for an exciting upcoming season.
