Kalinskaya beat Blinkova 6-4, 6-3 at the US Open, with her return game the key difference. She collected 31 receiving points to Blinkova's 15 and converted three break points to Blinkova's two. Although Blinkova won more service points overall (36-32), Kalinskaya struck five aces and won 76% of first-serve points.
The first set swung early: Kalinskaya broke in the second game for 2-0, Blinkova restored parity in the very next game, and Kalinskaya's break in game 10 delivered the 6-4 set. In the second set, the decisive break came in game 8, putting Kalinskaya 5-3 up, and she served out to close it 6-3.
The standout number was Kalinskaya's first-serve return: she won 18 of 42 points (42%) against Blinkova's first serve, while Blinkova could manage only 8 of 33 (24%). That edge, plus five aces and 76% first-serve points won, carried Kalinskaya through in straight sets.