Svitolina Stuns Swiatek In Three-Setter To Reach Wimbledon Semi-Finals
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July 11, (THEWILL) – Elina Svitolina continued her extraordinary Wimbledon journey with a stunning 7-5 6-7(5) 6-2 upset victory over top-seeded Iga Swiatek, securing her place in the semi-finals.
After returning to the tour in April following the birth of her first child, Svitolina displayed remarkable resilience and determination to overcome Swiatek in a thrilling contest. The match unfolded with Swiatek initially taking the lead, but ultimately succumbing to Svitolina’s inspired performance. The loss signifies a setback for Swiatek, jeopardising her world number one ranking unless Aryna Sabalenka does not reach the final.
Svitolina’s path to the semi-finals has been nothing short of exceptional, having defeated four former Grand Slam champions along the way. Despite a less-than-ideal start, marked by a double fault and missed forehand, Svitolina managed to turn the tables on Swiatek. A swing in momentum occurred when Svitolina held her serve, followed by a break to love. She capitalised on this advantage and employed an attacking style of play, earning her the first set. The closure of Centre Court’s roof due to rain did not dampen Swiatek’s determination, as she took advantage of Svitolina’s errors to secure an early break in the second set.
However, Svitolina displayed her resilience once more, fighting back to level the set and save critical break points, leading to a tie-breaker and eventually a deciding set. With the match hanging in the balance, Svitolina maintained her composure and mounted relentless pressure on Swiatek. Despite Swiatek’s valiant efforts, including a comeback from 4-1 down in the tie-breaker, Svitolina stood firm. In the decisive set, Svitolina broke Swiatek’s serve, consolidating her advantage and causing visible frustration in her opponent.
As the finish line drew near, Svitolina showed her mental fortitude and closed out the match in just under three hours, sealing an impressive victory and securing her spot in the semi-finals.
