After having a decent season in 2024, where she reached a WTA 1000 final (Dubai) and also made an entry into the Top 15 (becoming the number 11 on October 28), Anna Kalinskaya entered the 2025 season with a lot of optimism. After getting seeded for the very first time at the Australian Open 2025, she said, “I’m very happy where I’m now.” She also assured her fans that she’s eager to build on her achievements and cement her place among the elites in women’s tennis. But Kalinskaya couldn’t take part in the Australian Open due to an injury. Although she came back strong by reaching the SF of the Singapore Tennis Open, she was yet again forced to withdraw in the middle of that match. Following that, she has struggled to deliver in the rest of her tournaments this year. But in Strasbourg, she has now got off to a winning start. Can she now stop the in-form American, Jessica Pegula, from progressing into the QF in this WTA 500 outdoor clay court event?

Jessica Pegula vs Anna Kalinskaya: Preview

Jessica Pegula has been in red-hot form this season, clinching titles at the ATX Open and the Charleston Open. Following her incredible 6-3, 7-5 win over her compatriot Sofia Kenin in the Charleston final, she revealed the secret to success on clay, “I think my perseverance won me a lot of matches this week. I think, especially on the clay, I feel like you have to have kind of that grittiness and that toughness because the serve isn’t as effective.” Although after that, she failed to impress her fans with her performances in Stuttgart, Madrid, and Rome, it’s now perhaps time for her to deliver in Strasbourg. Can she topple the 26-year-old Russian?

Well, Anna Kalinskaya has already secured a victory at the Internationaux de Strasbourg. She defeated America’s Caroline Dolehide in the R32 by 6-2,4-6,6-3. Talking about her performances, on clay this season, although she reached the QF at the Charleston Open, Kalinskaya made early exits from the Madrid Open and the Italian Open.

Interesting Fact: Anna Kalinskaya was knocked out of each of her previous five tournaments by an American!

Pegula vs Kalinskaya: Head-to-Head

America’s Jessica Pegula has a clear-cut edge over the Russian tennis star. She leads the H2H record against Anna Kalinskaya by 3-0, and guess what? This will be their second meeting of the 2025 season!

• 2019 Citi Open SF: Pegula 6-3,3-6,6-1.
• 2024 Grass Court Championships Berlin Final: Pegula 6(0)-7,6-4,7-6(3).
• 2025 Miami Open R32: 6(3)-7,6-2,7-6(2).

Prediction: Pegula will win this match in straight sets

Jessica Pegula looks superior to Anna Kalinskaya in almost every aspect. But having said that, there’s no doubt about the Russian’s incredible potential to force massive upsets. If we go by the numbers, the world number three, Pegula, has a win-loss record of 28-9 this season, whereas it’s just 8-10 for Kalinskaya (30). So, other than the H2H record, looking at their current form, the American looks a clear favorite in this epic battle in Strasbourg.

With the French Open knocking at the door, both of these players would love to get some wins under their belts before taking their flights to Paris. If we take a look at their playing styles, Anna Kalinskaya is known for her heavy topspin, solid court coverage, and pushing her opponents into extended rallies. She has a strong forehand and good backhand in her arsenal, and these are some of the key factors that help her get an edge in the rallies. But she’s not typically considered an aggressive baseline player.

On the other side, Jessica Pegula is known for her aggressive, baseline-oriented playing style, characterized by strong groundstrokes and a powerful serve. She loves to dictate the play from the baseline and is also known for being an excellent tactician on the court. Pegula utilizes her wide wingspan effectively, hitting with power and precision, particularly with her backhand down the line. Even American loves to dictate the rallies. But will we see too many rallies in this match? We don’t think so; rather, Pegula will manage to wrap up this match pretty quickly this time.