Svitolina advanced to the third round of the tournament in Cincinnati
Elina Svitolina got off to a dramatic start at the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati. The Ukrainian lost the first set, saved seven match points in the second, and then completely outplayed her opponent in the deciding set.
Ukraine’s top-ranked player defeated 19-year-old Czech tennis player Tereza Valenová in the second round, 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-0. During the second set, Svitolina also sought medical attention due to a leg injury.
The match in Cincinnati started better for the Ukrainian. Svitolina immediately broke serve and took a 2–0 lead. However, she was unable to hold onto her advantage. Valenová quickly got back into the match, then broke the Ukrainian’s serve twice in a row.
The Czech player continued to apply pressure and eventually took the first set, 6–3. The situation became even more difficult for Svitolina in the second set. Valentová had a great chance to close out the match at 5–4.
Valentová was one step away from victory seven times
In the tenth game of the second set, the Czech player had five match points in a row. Svitolina didn’t let her opponent convert any of them. The Ukrainian saved the game and then continued to fight for the set. At 6–5, Valentová had two more match points. She failed to convert those as well.
Thus, Svitolina saved seven match points in a single set and prevented her opponent from ending the match. At that moment, the Ukrainian had to contend with more than just Valentova. During the second set, Svitolina called the doctor onto the court due to a leg injury.
Despite this, she continued the match and took the set to a tiebreak. In the tiebreak, the Ukrainian managed to outplay her opponent—7–5. The overall set score was tied at 1–1.
In the third set, Svitolina left her opponent no chance
After such a difficult second set, one might have expected a tense battle in the decisive set. But the opposite happened. Svitolina completely took control of the match. The Ukrainian won one game after another and didn’t allow Valento to win a single one.
The final score of the third set was 6–0 in Svitolina’s favor. The match ended with a score of 3–6, 7–6(5), 6–0.
What’s Next
Thanks to this victory, Elina Svitolina advanced to the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati. The Ukrainian’s next opponent will be China’s Xiu Wang.
For Svitolina, this will be another match at one of the top tournaments in women’s tennis. At the same time, her physical condition remains a key concern following the leg injury she sustained during her match against Valentova.
Second-round result
WTA 1000, Cincinnati: Tereza Valentová (Czech Republic) — Elina Svitolina (Ukraine, No. 8) — 6:3, 6:7(5), 0:6 Svitolina continues her quest for the title in Cincinnati.
As a reminder, on August 11, Elina Svitolina defeated Russia’s Katerina Aleksandrova in the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 in Toronto and advanced to the semifinals. The Ukrainian lost the first set but staged a comeback to win the match in three sets—3–6, 6–0, 6–3.
Prior to that, Ukraine’s top-ranked player, Elina Svitolina, secured a victory in the round of 16 at the prestigious WTA 1000 tournament being held in Toronto.
