Elina Svitolina returned three months ago with no-one knowing whether she could return to the top post pregnancy, but it is now back-to-back Grand Slam Quarter-Finals with Iga Swiatek next at Wimbledon.

Svitolina saw off Victoria Azarenka in an absolute epic over on Court One coming from a break down in the second set to win 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(11-9).

After Roland Garros, she has bookended that in some style in London and continues her incredible comeback.

She did it with the crowd on her side too as Azarenka was booed off court and there was no handshake as expected in a battle dubbed Ukraine v Belarus by sections of the media.

But it was certainly Svitolina's day no matter what.

Read also

Svitolina to stick with no Russian and Belarusian handshake rule ahead of Azarenka clash: "Hopefully there will be the same understanding from the British crowd"

Early on, Azarenka showed why she brought a 5-0 record into the clash and despite Svitolina coming up with a superb backhand to save one break point, she trailed early.

This was a sign of things to come as Azarenka sealed the opener 6-2 with Svitolina hitting some superb backhands but her serve did not stand up to it against Azarenka's return.

It went from bad to worse for Svitolina who went down a break 2-0 in the second, but as she has done time and time again, it was some superb resolve.

Azarenka this time had to save break points as Svitolina brought it back to 4-4 but Svitolina held meaning Azarenka had to serve to stay in the set.

Serve she did not as Svitolina levelled the match up at 6-4 in the second and sent it to a deciding set.

It was time for Azarenka to get back on level terms coming from 3-0 down to level up.

Read also

2023 Wimbledon Prize Money and Points Breakdown ATP & WTA with record £44,700,000 on offer

But from there, Azarenka was forced to serve to stay in the match at both 5-4 and 6-5 down to the Ukrainian. In between were superb service games from Svitolina who gained standing ovations at times from the crowd on Court One.

Azarenka on the latter service game had a wide-open court to aim at but it just went past the line and Svitolina made it 30-30. But she didn't get a match point opportunity with Azarenka sending it to the tiebreak.

Svitolina edges back and forth tiebreak sending crowd to its feet

Azarenka produced a great passing shot to break the serve of Svitolina to start the tie break at 3-2 among a backdrop of the crowd seemingly not being on the side of the Belarusian.

A wild and wayward return from Svitolina saw her head to the chair 4-2 down with Azarenka serving for 5-2. But an off-balance drop-shot careered into the net and Svitolina had a lifeline making it 4-4 from there and was serving for the lead herself.

Svitolina herself sensed frustration as she handed the serve back to Azarenka though who herself went 6-4 up.

A slice backhand from Svitolina continued that theme which went into the net as Azarenka went three away at 7-4. But Svitolina made it back on level terms and led at 8-7 with a spellbinding cross-court shot.

She was serving to go one away, but Azarenka dug deep for 8-8. It was a spell binding rally between the pair but Azarenka failed to time the drop shot and went straight into the net bringing up a match point.

Azarenka produced a superb overhead volley to make it 9-9 and with two points now needed, it was the Belarusian to serve.

But on the change of ends, Svitolina rose again and got another match point which she took with an ace dropping to the floor after an epic.

US Open Tennis

@usopen

·Follow

WHAT. A. MATCH.

1.8K

Reply

Copy link

Read 30 replies