Controversial remarks made by a commentator during the 2025 Cincinnati Open, regarding Anna Kalinskaya and Jannik Sinner’s past relationship, irked former doubles World No. 1 Rennae Stubbs.
Kalinskaya and Sinner publicly confirmed their relationship in May 2024, after which they were spotted attending each other’s matches, including at the French Open and Wimbledon. However, in May 2025, just a year after publicly confirming their relationship, Sinner announced that he and Kalinskaya had broken up.
Did Cincinnati Open Commentator Cross the Line With Anna Kalinskaya-Jannik Sinner Remarks?
Kalinskaya is currently competing in the 2025 Cincinnati Open, where she is seeded 28th. She began her campaign in the second round after receiving a first-round bye. In her opening match, she defeated Peyton Stearns with a scoreline of 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-1, and then triumphed over fifth seed Amanda Anisimova, winning 7-5, 6-4 in the third round.
During the former World No.11’s second-round match against Stearns at the WTA 1000 hard-court tournament, a commentator made some controversial comments concerning her past relationship with Sinner.
The commentator speculated that since Sinner and Kalinskaya’s breakup earlier this year, he had observed the World No. 1 meeting up with Emma Navarro, his US Open mixed doubles partner, at the Cincinnati Open. He bizarrely questioned whether this interaction was playing on the Russian’s mind.
“Probably know that Kalinskaya ended her relationship with Jannik Sinner earlier this year. I noticed the other day that Sinner was out hitting with Emma Navarro here at Cincinnati, and I don’t know if that means anything. Might be nothing, but it just makes you raise an eyebrow. Wonder if that’s on Kalinskaya’s mind at all. Probably not,” he said.
This commentator man, wtf pic.twitter.com/UtQd6ep2Rk
— til polarity’s end (@lildarkcage) August 11, 2025
These remarks by the commentator did not sit well with Stubbs, who took to social media to react to the incident.
“Who was this?” Stubbs posted on X.
Who was this?
— Rennae Stubbs (@rennaestubbs) August 11, 2025
Stubbs also described the commentator’s comments as “awful,” noting that he can “do better.”
Awful
— Rennae Stubbs (@rennaestubbs) August 12, 2025
Like Kalinskaya, Sinner is also competing at the 2025 Cincinnati Open. He is the defending champion, having won the title in 2024 by defeating Frances Tiafoe in the final.
This year, Sinner is the top seed at the ATP Masters 1000 event and began his campaign in the second round after receiving a first-round bye. He won his opening match against qualifier Daniel Elahi Galán, scoring 6-1, 6-1, and advanced to the fourth round after overcoming 30th seed Gabriel Diallo with a score of 6-2, 7-6(6) in the third round.
Who Will Kalinskaya Face Next at Cincinnati Open 2025?
Following her victory over Anisimova in the third round of the 2025 Cincinnati Open, Kalinskaya is set to face her compatriot, 12th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, in the fourth round of the tournament.
Alexandrova began her campaign at the WTA 1000 hard court tournament in the second round after receiving a first-round bye. She won her opening match against Lulu Sun with a score of 6-4, 6-2. She then secured her place in the fourth round against Kalinskaya by registering a 6-4, 6-3 win over Maya Joint in the third round.
MORE: Cincinnati Open Commentator Under Fire for Controversial Mention of Emma Navarro, Jannik Sinner, and Ex-girlfriend Anna Kalinskaya
Kalinskaya and Alexandrova have faced each other six times on the WTA Tour, with the latter winning all six matches. Their most recent encounter was in the second round of the 2024 Wuhan Open, which Alexandrova won with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-1.
The winner of the fourth-round match between Kalinskaya and Alexandrova at the 2025 Cincinnati Open will advance to face either third seed Iga Świątek or Sorana Cîrstea in the quarterfinals.
