Elina Svitolina’s streak vs. Russian Players ends with Linz Open defeat

Elina Svitolina lost her winning streak against Russian players after falling to Anna Blinkova 4-6, 4-6 in her debut at the WTA 250 Upper Austria Ladies Linz. The world No. 28 – one of the most vocal players regarding the Russia-Ukraine war – had won seven consecutive matches against Russians since the war began.

Since the war started in 2022, the 30-year-old Ukrainian was among the first to announce she would not shake hands with Russian or Belarusian players, a stance later adopted by her compatriots, including Marta Kostyuk, Dayana Yastremska, and Anhelina Kalinina.

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The former world No. 3 has repeatedly shown her commitment to the Ukrainian cause, visiting war zones – even being pictured holding a rocket launcher – and meeting with top Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Svitolina had maintained a unique 8-0 record against Russian players since the war began, but that streak ended at the Linz Open after losing to world No. 83 Anna Blinkova. The two had met twice before, with Svitolina winning both encounters. The Ukrainian, seeded second, had a rough performance and ultimately lost in straight sets.

Next, Svitolina will head to the Middle East Swing, where she will compete in the WTA 1000 events in Doha and Dubai. As for Blinkova, she advanced to the quarterfinals and will face one of the hottest players of the season, Clara Tauson, who holds a 9-1 record in 2025. Tauson’s only loss came against Aryna Sabalenka at the Australian Open, and she has already claimed a title in Hobart this year.

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Svitolina vs. Russian Players since the start of the war

2022Monterrey Open, First Round – Svitolina d. Anastasia Potapova 6-2, 6-1

2023 Strasbourg Open, Final – Svitolina d. Anna Blinkova 6-2, 6-3

2023 French Open, Round of 32 – Svitolina d. Anna Blinkova 2-6, 6-2, 7-5

2023 French Open, Round of 16 – Svitolina d. Daria Kasatkina 6-4, 7-6

2023 DC Open, Round of 16 – Svitolina d. Daria Kasatkina 6-2, 6-2

2023 US Open, Second Round – Svitolina d. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 5-7, 6-4, 6-4

2024 Rome Open, Round of 32 – Svitolina d. Anna Kalinskaya 6-3, 6-3

2025 Australian Open, Round of 16 – Svitolina d. Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1

2025 Linz Open, Round of 16 – Blinkova d. Svitolina 6-4, 6-4

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