When Anna Kalinskaya wrapped up her quarterfinal at the Citi Open last year, the crowd was already buzzing, but then came a moment no one saw coming. A playful bark rang out from her player’s box, and before anyone could process it, Bella, her light-brown dachshund, came sprinting onto the court and leapt straight into her arms. A celebration, Bella-style.

And this year, Bella brought that same energy again. During a high-octane clash against Paula Badosa at the Charleston Open, the little companion once again popped up to lift Kalinskaya’s spirits when it mattered most.

When Kalinskaya was battling Badosa at the Credit One Stadium, things were getting pretty tense. At match point, all eyes were on the court. And then, out of nowhere, a soft bark floated through the court. Yep, that was Bella, making sure she was part of the moment too.

So afterward, the interviewer reflected on the moment and said, “Your dog Bella actually barked at you. We were wondering if you’re getting coaching from your dog.”

To this, Kalinskaya smiled and confessed, “She’s my coach. She’s my boss.”

And honestly, that’s not even the full extent of it. For the 27-year-old, Bella has taken on more than just the role of a cheerleader, she’s practically part of the team, making sure Kalinskaya feels at ease on tour. Last year at the US Open, while Kalinskaya was warming up for her clash against Iga Swiatek, Bella even stepped into ball girl duties, trotting around at Flushing Meadows like she belonged there.

Something similar played out when Anna Kalinskaya won her semifinal against Emma Raducanu at the Citi Open. Right after the match, Bella couldn’t hold back, she came darting onto the court, tail wagging, straight to her owner. Kalinskaya scooped her up, and the crowd in Washington absolutely loved it, cheering along for the adorable moment.

Bella even got her Player’s Box card with a little paw print on it, and was tagged as a part of Team Kalinskaya.

Interestingly, after a straight-set win over Paula Badosa in Charleston, Kalinskaya will now face America’s Iva Jovic in the quarterfinals, where she will look to reach her first semifinal. 

Anna Kalinskaya faces Iva Jovic in uncharted territory

Between Kalinskaya and the first semifinal of her life in Charleston is the fourth seed, Iva Jovic. The pair has never shared a court in the past, and the quarterfinal on Friday will be the first time the two will encounter each other. This will be a truly open contest where neither player will have a history against the other to build on.

Jovic, an 18-year-old American, has become one of the WTA Tour breakout players of 2026, making it to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. She was the youngest American to ever make it to the quarterfinals at Melbourne since Venus Williams in 1998. She is currently ranked world No. 16 and has been climbing at a rate she had not expected. 

“It’s crazy to be in the position that I’m in, because I don’t feel that I’m close to maximizing myself yet, but I realistically didn’t think that I would get here honestly,” she said earlier this week.

Her Charleston campaign has been just as impressive. Jovic beat Alycia Parks, her fellow American, 6-3, 6-2, then clawed her way through a close match with 2025 finalist Sofia Kenin, 7-5, 7-5, in a match where she had to maintain her composure when Kenin launched attacks at her in the final stages of both sets.

The styles comprise an interesting contrast. The game of Kalinskaya revolves around groundstrokes, which are flat and penetrating and which overwhelm the enemy before they can stabilize. Having modeled her game on players such as Jessica Pegula, Belinda Bencic, and Bianca Andreescu, Jovic is more of an all-court baseline player, with the best coverage of the court and the defensive strength to take pressure and create an opening out of awkward situations.

The Sunshine Double was a tough spell for Jovic. She faced early exits at both Indian Wells and Miami, but the dark clay at Charleston is conducive to her motion, and she has reacted strongly in South Carolina. To Kalinskaya, this is a court where her flat ball can flourish, and her serving statistics against Badosa indicate she is in peak form.

The champion of this match will either have to deal with defending champion Jessica Pegula or Diana Shnaider in the semifinals.