Elvina Kalieva: From Being A Kid Getting Autograph on Big Wilson Balls To Actually Playing The U.S. Open

By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

When you see kids running around the U.S. Open with those giant Wilson tennis balls, one of them could actually one day play in the U.S. Open.

Just like Elvina Kalieva

The Brooklyn-born 23-year old made her main draw U.S. Open debut on the opening day of the 2026 championship, about 16 years after she first came to Flushing Meadows more intent on getting autographs than watching matches.

“I think I was probably seven years old I’d come here with those big balls to get signed,” she said. “I remember just coming here and watching as a fan and getting everyone’s autograph.”

Kalieva advanced into her first main draw at the Grand Slam tournament by winning three matches in the qualifying rounds. In the first round of the main draw, she battled for nearly three hours in a grueling duel with No. 76-ranked Lanalana Tararudee of Thailand before running out of gas and falling 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-2.

“It was unreal,” she said of her major championship debut. “Like, the crowd was amazing. I loved playing out there. I’m kind of sad, obviously, because I wanted to play more in front of the crowd.”

Despite living in Delray Beach, Florida since age 12, Kalieva still considers herself a New York girl, playing for the USTA Eastern section. She lived in Staten Island before her move to Florida and trained mainly at the College of Staten Island as well as some USTA Player Development training camps at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

“I definitely consider myself an Eastern player,” she said. “I grew up playing Eastern tournaments. I came from here, so I grew up playing these tournaments.”

With a WTA Tour ranking of No. 115, Kalieva is just on the verge of getting a direct entry into Grand Slam tournaments, that take the top 104 direct entries and she will be gunning for the goal at the next Grand Slam tournament which is January’s Australian Open.

“Tennis wise, I think I have the level, and I think the more matches that I play, the better I feel,” Kalieva said. “My confidence is pretty good right now. So hopefully I can continue on like this.”