Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, currently ranked 27th in the WTA rankings, faced a disappointing defeat in the first round of the Dubai 1000-point tournament, losing to Anastasia Kalinska, who is ranked 23rd. Despite a strong start where she convincingly won the first set, Ostapenko faltered in the following sets, losing seven consecutive games, allowing Kalinska to secure the match with a late break in the third set. This loss marks another setback in their head-to-head encounters, with Kalinska having won all four matches they've played against each other so far.

In terms of their previous meetings, Kalinska has consistently dominated, including a recent win at the 2024 Miami WTA 500 tournament where she triumphed with a score of 6-3, 6-1. Ostapenko's best result in the Dubai tournament came in the third round in both 2023 and 2024. In contrast, Kalinska made it to the finals two years ago, showcasing her strong performance in this competitive tournament.

Moving forward, Ostapenko is set to partner with Taiwanese player Su-Wei Hsieh in the doubles event, where they are seeded third and received a first-round bye. The Dubai tournament is played on hard courts, and the results further illustrate the competitive nature of women's tennis, with both players striving for success on this significant stage.