2023-07-11 21:38:38
A feat. After an intense match (7-5, 6-7, 6-2), Ukrainian Elina Svitolina qualified for the semi-finals of the Wimbledon tournament by defeating world number 1 Iga Swiatek . The Polish, winner of her 3rd Roland Garros last month, was the big favorite for this quarter-final of the 3rd Grand Slam tournament of the year.
She finally came up against a determined and successful Ukrainian player. After the loss of the first set (5-7), Swiatek thought he had done the hardest part by returning to one set everywhere after the tie-break (7-5). But the wife of Gaël Monfils went back to the front in a last one-sided set (2-6).
Beyond the performance, it is the career of the Ukrainian for two months that commands admiration. After a long absence due to the birth of her daughter, Elina Svitolina returned to the circuit last March. After a Roland Garros where she reached the quarter-finals (beaten by Salabenka), the one who recently married Gaël Monfils has just had a successful new career in a Grand Slam tournament.
“If someone had told me that, I would have called him crazy”
“I don’t know what’s going on…it’s unbelievable. I’m happy to have had the chance to come back and play such a match with such support,” said the 28-year-old Ukrainian. “I’m very proud of the effort I put in today. If someone had told me before the start of the tournament that I would be in the semi-finals after beating the world No.1, I would have called him crazy,” she added.
After eliminating former world number one Azarenka in the round of 16, Svitolina eliminated Swiatek in the quarter-finals and returned to the semi-finals at Wimbledon for the first time since 2019. She will face the Czech Marketa Vondrousova (42nd), surprise winner of the American Pegula, this Thursday for a place in the final. Next Monday, she will find at least the top 40 of the WTA ranking. How will she prepare for her semi-final? “I’m going to start with a beer!” “, she launched.
To reach the last four, she dismissed four Grand Slam winners: Venus Williams (1st round), Sofia Kenin (3rd round), Victoria Azarenka (round of 16) and Swiatek (quarters). For her part, she has never played in a major final, but had already reached the semi-finals twice, at Wimbledon and then at the US Open in 2019. Svitolina is the third player of the Open era (since 1968) to benefit from an invitation to climb into the semis at Wimbledon after Zheng Jie (2008) and Sabine Lisicki (2011).
A recovery in April after giving birth in October
The former world No. 3, also very emotionally affected by the war in Ukraine, resumed competition in April after giving birth last October to a daughter, Skaï, born of her union with the French player Gaël Monfils. In May, she won the Strasbourg tournament.
Against Swiatek on Tuesday, the match could have turned in favor of the Pole several times, but she generally committed too many unforced errors (41 for 37 winning points against 25 and 25 for Svitolina). As the Pole served for the set at 5-4 in the first set, Svitolina won 20 of 22 points to pocket that first set and lead 1-0 in the second.
In the deciding set, after losing the first game, the Ukrainian won the next four to lead 4-1 with a double break. She confirmed with two aces to lead 5-1 and concluded with her next face-off.
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