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

Thursday, 30 January 2025 at 18:44

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.

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

Breaking new ground! 💪

Anna Blinkova upsets the No.2 seed Svitolina in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 and is into the final eight in Linz! #WTALinz pic.twitter.com/hoCpuS0UGA
— wta (@WTA) January 30, 2025

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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