Alycia Parks Upsets Anna Kalinskaya at BNP Paribas Open

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — In a surprising turn of events, Alycia Parks defeated Anna Kalinskaya in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, during the first round of the BNP Paribas Open on March 5, 2025. The match, held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, showcased Parks’ powerful game and strategic play against her overmatched opponent.

Parks, currently ranked No. 61 in the world, entered the match with momentum after capturing her fifth Challenger-level title earlier this year at Open Angers. “I feel like I’ve been playing well lately,” Parks said after her victory. “I focused on keeping my game simple and executing my serve. It was crucial to stay aggressive against Anna, who has a lot of skills.”

Kalinskaya, a former World No. 11, has faced a tumultuous start to the season. Despite her strong pedigree, she struggled throughout the match, continuing a disappointing trend that has seen her retire or withdraw from previous tournaments this year due to health issues. “I was not at my best today, and Alycia played a great match,” Kalinskaya noted post-match. “I need to focus on my mental game in the upcoming tournaments.”

The match statistics reflected the competitive nature of Parks’ performance. She finished with a first serve percentage of 61.9%, winning 92.3% of her first serve points. In contrast, Kalinskaya managed only a 47.1% win rate on her first serve points, highlighting the striking difference in their game execution.

Notably, Parks capitalized on her break opportunities, converting three of five chances while only facing one break opportunity herself. Kalinskaya admitted, “I struggled to find my rhythm and wasn’t able to return her serves effectively, which made a big difference in the match outcome.”

The BNP Paribas Open, categorized as a WTA 1000 event, features a prize pool of $8,963,700 and attracts top tennis talent from around the world. Parks will now advance to the Round of 64, where she faces No. 13-ranked Diana Shnaider, who is coming off a tough three-set loss at the ATX Open.

Parks, reflecting on the upcoming match against Shnaider, said, “I know this is a big opportunity for me. I’ll prepare and try to maintain my momentum.” As she aims to improve upon her past performance in Indian Wells, where she previously lost in the first round in both 2021 and 2023, excitement surrounds her potential progress in the tournament.