It happened early in the match. Anna Kalinskaya felt some weirdness in her calf and called for a medic. She was checked out, taped up, and needed a medical timeout. But she continued in her Cincinnati Open quarterfinal match against Iga Swiatek.
To be fair, Swiatek had the advantage entering the match. The former No. 1 has changed her approach to any surface other than a clay one. She stunned everyone by winning Wimbledon in July, and while she has won one US Open, no one would claim she plays her best on hard courts.
That could be changing. The Pole is a real threat to win her first Cincinnati Open title, after reaching the semifinals in each of the last two years. She will face bigger hitters than Kalinskaya, but a few players might battle harder.
Iga Swiatek defeats Anna Kalinskaya in the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Open
The Russian managed to keep the match tight even after suffering her first-set calf problem. She kept moving well and hitting with pace, but not the kind of pace that Swiatek can generate with her forehand. Plus, the Pole's serve is becoming more of a weapon, too.
Iga Swiatek won 83 percent of her first serves and faced only two break points, getting broken once. Instead of approaching the net much, she let her whip-like forehand dictate play. Kalinskaya was sometimes able to hit a strong return, but often swung late, never getting fully used to the speed that Swiatek can hit with.
The 6-3 6-4 victory for the Pole was fitting. The Russian hung around, but does not have the kind of consistent shot-making to pressure a player of Swiatek's skill in big matches. Anna Kalinskaya is a good player, but Iga Swiatek is a great one.
The WTA No. 3 will next have a very difficult match, no matter who the opponent is. She will play WTA No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka or Elena Rybakina. Both Sabalenka and Rybakina are excellent hard-court players.