Elina Svitolina Makes Cinematic Comeback, Defeats Iga Swiatek to Reach Wimbledon Semifinals

Elina Svitolina, who in September 2017 reached number three in the world, her most prominent position, was absent from the circuit for approximately a year for two important reasons: because she is emotionally suffering from what is happening in Ukraine, her country, since the warlike invasion of Russia, and for having become pregnant by her husband, the French and also tennis player Gael Monfils. On October 15, Skai, her first daughter, was born. And on April 3, in Charleston, the European returned to compete on the tour. She played a handful of tournaments, celebrated a title again (in Strasbourg) and even reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros. She received an invite to perform at Wimbledon and has already rounded off a cinematic comeback after beating No. 1 Iga Swiatek and qualifying for the semifinals.

Elina Svitolina defeated Iga Swiatek and advanced to the Wimbledon semifinalsDANIEL LEAL – AFP

“Now I’m going to have a beer. I will enjoy with my team. If before the tournament someone told me that they would be in a semifinal, I would tell them they were crazy. I’m going to relax, get a much-needed massage and get ready for the next battle,” smiled Svitolina, at the foot of the All England center court, after defeating Poland’s Swiatek 7-5, 6-7 (5-7). ) and 6-2, in 2h51m. The 28-year-old player, one of the hardest hit representatives of the tennis circuit, although active and committed to the cause generated by the war in Ukraine, will play her third Grand Slam semifinal. Her next rival will be the Czech Marketa Vondrousova, who beat the American Jessica Pegula (6-4, 2-6 and 6-4).

Svitolina together with his wife, Gael Monfils, and their daughter Skai, born last OctoberInstagram

Swiatek, a four-time Grand Slam champion (she won her third title at Roland Garros last month), still has a score to settle on British grass. In fact, against Svitolina she played for the first time in the quarterfinals in the All England. The Ukrainian hit five aces, committed nine double faults, achieved 57% of first serves, won 82% of points with the first serve and just 40% with the second, but she broke Swiatek’s serve six times and scored 25. winning shots. Svitolina is the third “guest” to reach the Wimbledon semifinals, but the first to do so in more than a decade: China’s Zheng Jie (in 2008) and Germany’s Sabine Lisicki (2011) were the others.

The affectionate greeting between Iga Swiatek and Elina SvitolinaKirsty Wigglesworth – AP

In the third set, Svitolina, who had already defeated three former Grand Slam champions in the tournament (Venus Williams, Sofia Kenin and Victoria Azarenka), brought out her entire arsenal of impacts to hurt Swiatek (she could lose the number 1 if the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka is champion) and earn a ticket in the Wimbledon semifinals. “I don’t know how to fully explain how I feel, but now I see myself with more patience on the court and I have a fresher mentality. I know that I must give myself the necessary time to get into rhythm, not rush into playing too many tournaments. I am very motivated with this new stage, I see myself in good shape, but it is difficult for me to compare it with my level before because I feel like a completely different tennis player since I gave birth”, Svitolina had narrated after defeating the Belgian Elise Mertens ( seeded 28th) in the second round. Indeed, her tennis flows perfectly in London.

At the time, Svitolina, current number 73, born in the Ukrainian city of Odessa, confessed to being extremely affected by the war between Russia and her country. Away from her family and her friends, in February 2022 she announced that she would donate the prize money she won during her tournaments to help the victims of the Kremlin invasion. Since then, she has been one of the most critical Ukrainian athletes about the conflict, she refused to greet her Russian or Belarusian rivals (as happened in this edition of Wimbledon with Azarenka or in the last French Open with Sabalenka) and even had opportunities to meet with Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky.

Elina Svitolina and the President of Ukraine Volodimir ZelenskyInstagram

“Iga (Swiatek) is an incredible person. He was one of the first people who supported the Ukrainian people. He was a great help. It is not easy to play against someone with whom you share many good moments, ”Svitolina pointed out after the match against the Polish player who, since last year, usually wears ribbons with the colors of the Ukrainian flag on her cap. Svitolina does not stop experiencing strong emotions in her life. Now, in London, it is tennis that excites her. And her story, without a doubt, stands as one of the stories that mobilize fans of the art of rackets.

Summary of Svitolina’s victory against Swiatek

LA NACIONMeet The Trust Project
2023-07-11 17:47:00
#Elina #Svitolina #gave #bump #Wimbledon #months #mother #beat #number #Iga #Swiatek #play #semifinals