Kalinskaya Faces Parks in Opening Round of BNP Paribas Open

INDIAN WELLS, California, March 5, 2025 – Russian tennis player Anna Kalinskaya will take on American Alycia Parks today in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The matchup marks an important opportunity for both players as they seek to advance in this prestigious WTA 1000 event.

Kalinskaya, currently ranked outside the top 30, has had a difficult start to the season, retiring from two matches earlier in the year and experiencing a string of early exits that hindered her performance. Most notably, she withdrew from the Adelaide International due to a virus and struggled in her competitive return at the Singapore Tennis Open, retiring again while trailing in the first set. The former World No. 11 is eager to bounce back, having previously achieved high rankings and performances.

Meanwhile, Parks, ranked No. 61, comes off a recent title at the Challenger-level Open Angers and a semifinal appearance at the ASB Classic. Although she faced a challenging period with four consecutive first-round losses, her recent qualifications for the Doha and Dubai 1000-level events show signs of recovery. Parks is looking to improve upon her previous first-round exits at Indian Wells in 2021 and 2023.

The two players have met once before on tour, with Kalinskaya winning their previous encounter at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open in straight sets. As they prepare for today’s clash, Kalinskaya holds a slight edge in their head-to-head history.

According to analysts from BetMGM, Kalinskaya is favored to win, with a moneyline of -155 compared to Parks’ +120. BetMGM offers additional insights, indicating that Kalinskaya’s aggressive playing style, characterized by precise groundstrokes and timely ball striking, will be crucial in this match.

Kalinskaya’s ability to take the ball on the rise will need to be matched by Parks’ powerful serve, particularly given her height advantage. As anticipation builds ahead of their match, both athletes must focus on their respective game plans and manage their winners-to-unforced errors ratios to secure a victory.

In a quote reflecting on her upcoming match, Kalinskaya stated, “Every match is a new chance for me. I am working hard to find my rhythm again.” Parks, poised to leverage her recent improvements, expressed confidence, remarking, “I’ve learned a lot over the past few tournaments, and I feel ready to compete.”

The BNP Paribas Open 2025 features a significant prize pool of $8,963,700, contributing to the high stakes surrounding each match. Fans worldwide can catch the live broadcast of the event on networks such as the Tennis Channel in the USA and Sky Sports in the UK.