Svitolina survives Tomova scare to reach Monterrey quarterfinals

After an emotional win over Russian Anastasia Potapova in the previous round, Ukrainian Elina Svitolina overcame Bulgaria's Viktoriya Tomova to advance at the Abierto GNP Seguros on Thursday night.

The top seed endured a two-hour and 24 minute slugfest to prevail with a 7-6(3) 3-6 6-2 victory, endearing herself even more to the Ukrainian people. Svitolina outlasted Tomova in a tight first set tiebreaker, after leading 5-3 and serving for the set. Nonetheless, it was Tomova who was able to dictate play in the second set, finding her form as she capitalized on some shaky play from the World No.15.

The final set saw Tomova obtain an early break to lead 2-1, but the World No.103 fell apart as she was deconstructed by her increasingly confident opponent. Svitolina broke back, before winning the next four games to book her spot in the quarterfinals.

Awaiting the top seed is youngster Camila Osorio, who actually holds a 1-0 lead over Svitolina. The fifth-seeded Colombian prevailed in a three-set victory when the pair clashed last year in Tenerife.