THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 29, 2022

Anhelina Kalinina

Press Conference

L. TSURENKO/A. Kalinina

3-6, 6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Just your thoughts on today's match.

ANHELINA KALININA: Yeah, today was very tough match. I think Lesia played really great, like unbelievable tennis. She absolutely deserves this win. She was very, very patient on court.

I think next time I also need to change a little bit my game on the grass, because today I made a little bit not right decisions in the important moments.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Belinda Bencic told us a little bit that when she played doubles with you in Paris that you talked a little bit about the situation in Ukraine. Can you tell us a little bit more what you were talking about and if there was anything in particular that she told you maybe that could help you?

ANHELINA KALININA: Belinda is my very close friend, and she offered me as much help as I need.

Yes, she was there, and she's one of few players who's ready to help and to support my family and me. I'm super grateful that I have this person.

Q. Belinda said when you talked to her that she supports the initiative not to have Russian and Belarus players play here. She's one of the few who says that openly. Do you think you have enough support in that matter, or are you disappointed that not many more players support you or support Wimbledon in that cause?

ANHELINA KALININA: Better to have few players 100% with you than many, but so-so. So I'm happy with few that they are on my side, that they are supporting Ukraine fully, and I don't need million people or million players for something, because I need honestly when the person comes and support me.

I didn't get so much support from the players. Okay, it's their decision. Everyone has its own decision. But I have few on my side, and we are very close, and I'm happy that they come, that they talk to me privately, and I know that we are together.

Q. How can they support you on a personal level, like...

ANHELINA KALININA: This is personal.

Q. With two Ukranian players and a few flags, is it possible while playing to completely forget everything that's going on?

ANHELINA KALININA: I mean, when I'm on the court, I'm trying to think about mostly what's going on on the court, because otherwise I would not be able to maybe to hit few balls in the court.

So when I go outside the match, yes, it never finishes. It's not finished yet, and of course you can't forget, you will never forget this. So, yes, on the court I'm trying to focus on the game. I'm trying to do that.

Q. Is that possible to do?

ANHELINA KALININA: You see I'm playing. Maybe it's possible, yeah (smiling).

Q. What is your connection with Tsurenko? Are you friendly, or what is...

ANHELINA KALININA: I mean, we don't see each other so much, because first of all, I mean, before she was on another level, absolutely she was playing top level. I mean, when she was top 30 or top 20, I don't know. So I never even saw her in the tournaments because I was playing 25K basically.

Yeah, when we see each other in Kyiv sometimes, because she's traveling a lot, I'm traveling a lot. We had few couple of practices, but it's really seldom. Yeah, I'm very good with all our girls.

Q. Does it make a difference if you're going to lose a match that you don't want to lose that you lose to somebody from Ukraine?

ANHELINA KALININA: Doesn't matter from where the person comes. The result is the result.

Q. Did you talk to Tsurenko since the match, or...

ANHELINA KALININA: No, we didn't talk. No.

Q. She wore the blue and yellow ribbon on her dress. Did you think about that too?

ANHELINA KALININA: I didn't think about that. I was thinking about the match. She's wearing, and I already said yesterday that I am wearing it, but on my tennis bag. So the whole TV is actually cameras, they see it on my bag. But I'm not comfortable to play with anything on myself. That's the only thing why I'm not wearing it.

Q. When was the last time you were back in Ukraine, back home?

ANHELINA KALININA: 17 February.

Q. Do you have any idea when you will be able to go back?

ANHELINA KALININA: We have no idea about, yeah. We want Ukraine to win. We are praying for peace, but I can't even imagine when we would be able to go home. I'm jumping like everyone else from tournament to tournament.

Q. What sense do you have of the ability of people in your home country to see today's match, and what do you think it might have meant to them?

ANHELINA KALININA: I don't know what it means to them. I think they have much more important things, sorry, than our tennis match. Yeah.

Q. Where are you between tournaments?

ANHELINA KALININA: Nowhere. I'm just on the tournaments. I go, and I practice there. I don't have any base currently.

Q. So you live out of the suitcase?

ANHELINA KALININA: Yes, I'm just -- yeah, hotel, hotel, hotel. Yeah. Starting from Doha in February.

Q. Where is your next hotel?

ANHELINA KALININA: My next hotel is Budapest, Hungary, but I'm still playing here doubles, so hopefully we will do great.

Then it's Hamburg, and then I move to U.S. to start the U.S., starting in San Jose or maybe Toronto or whatever.

Q. So you see all the places in front of you?

ANHELINA KALININA: Yeah.

Q. Who is traveling with you?

ANHELINA KALININA: My husband.

Q. He's also your coach?

ANHELINA KALININA: He's my coach.

Q. How many suitcases do you carry along with you?

ANHELINA KALININA: We are traveling with two huge, heavy bags.