Tennis
A unique achievement of a Russian tennis player. Arina has been going towards this all her life
Arina Rodionova / Photo: © Chris Hyde / Stringer / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru
Now the former representative of Russia has written her name in the history of tennis.
Russian tennis player Arina Rodionova has been in the WTA rankings for almost two decades, but the athlete managed to achieve the most important achievement only at the end of her career.
Now Arina has gone down in tennis history.
Russian Australian
Rodionova was born in Russia into a tennis family. Older sister Anastasia played on the WTA tour for a long time, winning 11 doubles titles. Arina was introduced to tennis by her father, who worked as a coach. For a long time, Rodionova Jr. represented our country. Under the Russian flag, she even became the winner of the 2007 junior Australian Open in doubles.
Seven years later, the southern continent became a second home for Rodionova. Arina changed her citizenship after her older sister, but she was unable to build the same successful career. The athlete could not break into the top hundred of the WTA rankings. It got to the point that Arina fell back to 350th place in February 2023 due to wrist surgery.
By the age of 34, many had already written off the athlete. At the Australian Open, the organizers even refused to give the athlete a wild card, despite the fact that she held the highest position among the Australian tennis players who did not make the cut. Arina failed to make it through the qualifications.
Historical record
The organizers’ dubious decision deprived Arina of the opportunity to enter the top 100 of the WTA rankings for the first time in her career, but did not break the athlete.
This week she entered the WTA tournament in Hua Hin (Thailand). Here she has already achieved success, albeit in doubles. In 2020, Rodionova won with Storm Hunter (Sanders before her marriage). This time Rodionova performed better in singles. She reached the quarterfinals, where she lost to the 2nd racket of the tournament, Chinese Zhu Lin – 3:6; 3:6. But two victories were enough to rise into the top hundred of the rankings starting next week.
It is, of course, unethical to look into a lady’s passport, but on Monday Rodionova will be 34 years and 52 days old. Thus, she will become the oldest athlete in tennis history to reach this important mark. This achievement was previously held by Israeli Tziporah Obziler, who entered the top 100 for the first time in her career in February 2007 at the age of 33.
Source: Sportbox
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Ukrainian tennis player Angelina Kalinina (WTA 178) She managed to qualify for the 2026 Australian Open.
In the final of the selection, the Ukrainian player beat the Polish representative in three sets Maya Khvalinskaya (WTA 145) in 2 hours 25 minutes.
Australian Open 2026. Qualification
Angelina Kalinina (Ukraine) – Maya Chwalinska (Poland) – 5:7, 6:2, 6:1
Kalinina played against Khvalinskaya for the first time.
In addition to Maya, Angelina also beat Joanna Garland and Anouk Koevermans in the Australian Open qualifiers.
Kalinina will be playing in a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since last year’s Roland Garros. In early July 2025, Angelina was injured and only returned to tennis in December, immediately winning the WTA 125 cup in Limoges.
It will be Angelina’s fifth time playing in the main draw of an Australian major. His best result on the Melbourne courts was the third round in 2023.
Previously, Yulia Starodubtseva also passed the AO-2026 qualification. Kalinina and Starodubtseva join Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk, Dayana Yastremskaya and Alexandra Oleynikova in the heart of slam.
Match statistics: Angelina Kalinina – Maya Khvalinskaya
Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
January 15 Ukrainian tennis player Angelina Kalinina (WTA 178) will continue to compete to qualify for the 2026 Australian Open.
The Ukrainian player will face the Polish representative in the final of the selection Maya Khvalinskaya (WTA 145). The meeting will start at approximately 02:00 Kyiv time.
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This will be the first head-to-head meeting between the rivals.
The winner of the match will advance to the main draw of the Australian Open.
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Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
January 15 Ukrainian tennis player Daria Snigur (WTA 136) will continue to compete to qualify for the 2026 Australian Open.
He will play against the Ukrainian player in the last round of the selection Alexandra Sasnovic (WTA 102). The match will start at 05.00 Kyiv time.
The best moments of tennis matches LIVE on Telegram channel Tennis on Sport.ua
This will be the rivals’ first meeting.
The winner of the match will advance to the main draw of the Australian Open.
Video player will be added later…
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Source: Sport UA
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
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