Svitolina has advanced to the final of the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome
15 May 05:28
Ukraine’s top-ranked player, Elina Svitolina, has advanced to the final of the prestigious WTA 1000 tournament in Rome. In the semifinals, the Ukrainian tennis player defeated former world No. 1 Iga Świątek in three sets—6-4, 2-6, 6-2. Now Svitolina will face American Coco Gauff for the title. This was reported on the official website of the Women’s Tennis Association, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
The semifinal match lasted over two hours. For Svitolina, this will be her sixth final in a WTA 1000 tournament and her third final at this level on clay.
How Svitolina defeated Swiatek
In the first set, Svitolina seized the initiative and took a 3-1 lead. Swiatek tried to get back into the set, but the Ukrainian held on to her advantage and won the set 6-4.
In the second set, the Polish tennis player managed to turn the match around. Swiatek played more aggressively, held her service games better, and evened the match by winning the set 6-2.
Svitolina started the decisive set strongly. The Ukrainian raced to a 3-0 lead, then maintained her advantage and closed out the match with a 6-2 victory in the third set. The official score of the semifinal: Iga Swiatek – Elina Svitolina 4-6, 6-2, 2-6.
Svitolina is back in the final in Rome
For Elina Svitolina, the tournament in Rome holds special significance. It was here that she won the title twice—in 2017 and 2018. Now the Ukrainian has returned to the final of one of the season’s most prestigious clay-court tournaments.
According to the WTA, after defeating Swiatek, Svitolina said that the feeling of returning to the final in Rome after so many years is “unreal.” The match lasted over two hours, and the victory became one of the most important for the Ukrainian this season.
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Who will be Svitolina’s opponent in the final
In the final, Svitolina will face American Coco Gauff, the world’s No. 4. Gauff defeated Romanian Sorana Cîrstea 6-4, 6-3 in her semifinal and advanced to the Rome final for the second consecutive year.
The final match between Svitolina and Gauff will take place on Saturday, May 16.
What this final means for Svitolina
Svitolina will play in her third WTA tournament final of the season. Earlier this year, the Ukrainian won the tournament in Auckland, and in February reached the final of the WTA 1000 in Dubai.
Overall, this will be Svitolina’s sixth final at WTA 1000 tournaments. It is also her 25th final on the Tour and her eighth final on clay. The Ukrainian has won all seven of her previous clay-court finals in her career.
Svitolina’s path to the final
Before her victory over Swiatek, the Ukrainian also had a tough quarterfinal against world No. 2 Elena Rybakina. Svitolina lost the first set but managed to turn the match around and won 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Thus, on her way to the Rome final, the Ukrainian defeated two top-ranked players—Rybakina and Swiatek.
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