As the 2025 tennis season progresses, one of the key matches to watch out for is the face-off between Anna Kalinskaya and Alycia Parks at Indian Wells. Notably, it’s a battle of form versus rank, with both athletes striving to outperform the other.
Kalinskaya, who had a moderate run in the previous season, began 2025 on a shaky note, grappling with form and fitness issues. However, she bounced back impressively at the Singapore Tennis Open, making it to the semi-finals – a highlight of her season thus far. The question now is, can she replicate or even surpass this performance at Indian Wells? The answer to that largely depends on her upcoming match against America’s Alycia Parks.
Parks, on her part, has had an inconsistent year, with a blend of highs and lows. As she squares off against Kalinskaya in the first round, all eyes are on who will emerge victorious in this battle.
Coming into the Indian Wells tournament, Kalinskaya is fresh off an early departure from the 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships, where she fell to Elina Svitolina, formerly ranked world number 3. This defeat in the R64 of the Dubai Tennis Championships could play a psychological role in her performance against Parks.
Meanwhile, Parks has had a more successful year so far, already reaching the semi-finals of the ASB Classic. However, her performance in other tournaments has been less than stellar. Her most recent defeat was at the hands of Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the R32 of the Dubai Tennis Championships, marking a potential hurdle to her confidence.
When it comes to head-to-head encounters, Kalinskaya holds an advantage, having triumphed over Parks twice in their professional careers. The Russian star leads the American 2-0, with victories at the 2023 Midland 125 semi-finals and the 2023 Indian Wells R128.
However, the numbers reveal an interesting story. Despite Kalinskaya’s higher ranking (33) compared to Parks (61), the latter has been in better form this season. Parks boasts a 2025 win-loss record of 9-6, while Kalinskaya trails with a record of 3-5. Furthermore, playing on home turf, Parks will enjoy the support of the crowd, potentially placing additional pressure on Kalinskaya.
Examining their playing styles, Kalinskaya is renowned for her deadly backhand and forehand shots. Her aggressive style, combined with her exceptional serving ability and swift footwork, could prove effective on this surface. However, can she leverage these strengths against Parks?
Parks also plays an aggressive game, characterized by powerful serves and groundstrokes. Her court coverage ability is another asset. Given her form, home advantage, and playing style, Parks is tipped to emerge victorious in this intriguing clash. However, Kalinskaya is expected to put up a fight, and there’s a high probability of the match extending to three sets.
As we gear up for this exciting encounter at Indian Wells 2025, fans and pundits are closely watching these two athletes, eager to see who will seize the opportunity and emerge victorious.
