New Delhi: Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina made a whirlwind during her fourth round match at the Australian Open women’s singles against Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova. On Monday, the World No.27 was reeling at 1-4 down in the first set, and then, switched gears to win 11 of the next 12 games to trounce the 27-year-old Veronika 6-4, 6-1 in a one hour and 23 minutes at the Rod Laver Arena.
After making an upset against Italian Jasmine Paolini (fourth-seeded), Svitolina bided time to find her mojo back. Kudermetova found double-break advantage early into the contest while the former World No.3 Ukraine player struggled to notch the winners. The pressure was on Svitolina, who had lost her previous two matches against the Russian in three sets.
Elina Svitolina is back in the Australian Open quarterfinals for the first time since 2019! pic.twitter.com/93lRH0hOtU
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) January 20, 2025
She banked on the puissant shots to put Kudermetova on the backfoot to take an astonishing lead at 5-4. The Russian received medical treatment with the physios making two visits in the latter stages of the first set. Svitolina left no stone unturn to shift the pressure on the opponent and hit a brilliant volley to break at 3-1. She converted five of her nine break points to complete an exceptional comeback in the 83-minute humdinger.
Svitolina makes first quarterfinal appearance at Australian Open after six years
The 30-year-old has reached the first quarterfinal of the Australian Open since 2019. She gave a birth to a daughter and also underwent a surgery. This will also be her career’s 12th Grand Slam appearance in a quarterfinal match.
“Feels like a lifetime ago. Many things happened and I’m really pleased with the performance throughout the tournament. Really enjoying this win today,” Svitolina.
Svitolina will play either Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan or Madison Keys of United States in the quarterfinal. The Ukrainian hasn’t reach beyond semifinals of Grand Slam with her last appearance was made at the US Open 2019. She has never went past quarterfinals at the Australian Open.
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