Elina Svitolina showcased her resilience in a thrilling match against Elysia Kartal, ultimately securing a hard-fought victory to advance in the tournament. Despite a shaky opening set where Svitolina struggled with her accuracy, she managed to edge out Kartal 6-4 after the players exchanged breaks. Kartal’s consistent shot-making put Svitolina under pressure, but the top seed found a way to clinch the crucial games when it mattered most.
The second set saw Kartal come out with renewed confidence, breaking Svitolina early and taking a 5-3 lead, putting her in a strong position to serve for the set. However, Svitolina’s determination shone through as she responded with a pivotal break, regaining her composure to eventually push the set to a tiebreak. Unfortunately for Kartal, Svitolina once again rose to the occasion, allowing her opponent to take the set and set the stage for a deciding third set.
In the final set, Kartal initially took the lead, breaking Svitolina’s serve for a 2-0 advantage. Svitolina, however, displayed her fighting spirit when it mattered most, breaking Kartal while down 5-4 and avoiding elimination. Reflecting on the match, Svitolina remarked on the challenges she faced and emphasized her focus on maintaining high-quality shots.
This thrilling match concluded a successful day for the top-seeded players; No. 3 seed Jovic, No. 4 seed Alexandra Eala, and No. 7 seed Wang Xinyu also advanced to the semi-finals. Wang’s path to victory came through a walkover against Francesca Jones, who was forced to retire in the second set due to a leg injury. Despite the tough conditions with wind and sun affecting play, Wang expressed concern for Jones’s health, wishing her a swift recovery in time for the upcoming Australian Open.
As players gear up for the semi-finals, excitement is building for the upcoming match between Wang and Eala, promising to deliver more high-stakes tennis action.