Despite the ban on Russian and Belarusian tennis players imposed by the organizers of Wimbledon and the strong tensions created within the Tour, one of the most significant and exciting images of 2022 comes from the world of tennis.
At the WTA 500 in Berlin, fate played her part and the draw put the Russian Daria Kasatkina and the Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina in front of the first round. Leading by one set, the 25-year-old from Nova Kakhovka suffered a calf injury and collapsed to the ground in severe pain.
Kasatkina wasted no time and with great fair play she catapulted herself to the opposite side of the net to help her opponent. The Russian player handed Kalinina some ice and she waited a few moments before returning to her side of the court.
The crowd could not help but applaud the meaningful gesture made by Kasatkina. The match ended with a score of 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 in favor of the Russian.
Lending a helping hand š@DKasatkina quick to respond after Kalinina goes over on her ankle ā¤ļøāš©¹#bett1open pic.twitter.com/dU68qGEN1W
ā wta (@WTA) June 13, 2022