Svitolina wins Italian Open in three set defeat of Halep

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Elina Svitolina was the last one standing tall at the Italian Open. With both her and Simona Halep riddled with injuries, the world number 11 improved her season once more as she captured her fourth WTA title and eighth overall with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory on Campo Centrale on the grounds of Foro Italico in Rome.

This was the first meeting in WTA action between the two but in other play, the Romanian has defeated the young Ukrainian twice. Both put themselves on a collision course with one another as Halep recently took the title in Madrid attempting to go for the double a week later. Svitolina searched for her fourth title this season and second WTA premier that would give her so much momentum going into the second Grand Slam of the season. Her pass through to the final against Garbine Muguruza Saturday allowed her time to prepare for the world number four and have an even chance to be successful once more.

The path was difficult from the start as she saw adversity right away with Halep threatening for a break point. The world number 11 saved her serve and won on the break on deuce to be up 1-0. The Romanian had an easier transition from her opening serve to deliver strength that Svitolina struggled to return the ball. It became the turning point for Halep to gain the lead as she went for another break in the third. Despite having four chances to do so, Svitolina once again avoided losing complete control and kept the pace on service.

Halep continued knocking at the door when the ball was in the 22-year old’s hands and after another tough battle, the 25-year-old came through with the first lead change. It was hers to control as she dictated the rallies and had Svitolina forced into positions she didn’t feel comfortable in. Those moves gave her the ball placement that allowed her to take a 5-2 lead.

It was necessary for Svitolina to take a talk with coach Andrew Bettles who knew that Halep was controlling the points and that she needed to be the one to do so instead. Focusing on her balance and competing in the games that were left were the key words he had to keep her alive with the Romanian serving for the set. On the second point of the game, Halep had a trip on her own feet that slightly twisted her ankle. The issue opened the door for Svitolina to break and held on to a point to win. The insight from Bettles was working for the eighth seed as she opened the gap on serve to win another key push.

Feeling the momentum change, the sixth seed took a conference with coach Darren Cahill who came out to ask her what was wrong. When she didn’t answer, he gave her some pointers to try and close out the set with the serve in her possession and make Svitolina take the risks. Instead of a downfall from her opponent, she took care of business reaching three set points before a 16 shot rally ended with a return from Svitolina landing long by inches that ended things in 42 minutes.

During the break, Halep had the training come out and take care of the issue with her ankle that still caused her pain. As play resumed to begin the second, Svitolina had the wind still bothering her on serve and Halep ready to give it her all. It resulted in a big break in the opening game that had her ahead once more. In response, the Ukrainian accelerated to a break of her own creating a winning streak that saw her push into the court to answer a lob chance from Halep.

When that didn’t work for her, Svitolina finished off the break win and consolidated it with a service hold that brought together a points streak. She was gaining strength over Halep who looked to be bothered further by the ankle. Despite the problem, Svitolina used it to her advantage gaining an important 3-1 lead to get her into forcing a third set. The Romanian wasn’t out of the running as she brought together a win to her name hoping to push herself into a tie.

Halep had to defend when she found herself fighting for deuce in the sixth. The efforts gave her a footing to overpower Svitolina and win on the second break that leveled her chances once again. With things tight in the set, Svitolina knew that keeping hold of serve would be key to give her any chance of forcing a third set. Before continuing, the eighth seed had the physiotherapist come out an assess a groin issue and a neck problem. She didn’t take a medical timeout and pressed forward with play.

She added another win to her name as she took a 5-3 lead on a double break giving her the opportunity to serve for the set. Halep brought a stop to the threat for one moment as she avoided losing out and won on the second break on deuce. During the changeover, the Romanian took a medical timeout to deal with her right ankle.

After having it taped up well, the world number four came out looking more comfortable and fired away at Svitolina. The Ukrainian had plenty of answers and got lucky with a very long rally ending in a point to her name forcing deuce. Just when the door was opened, Halep slammed it shut with aggression forcing the set deeper. Halep’s game vanished in the 11^th as Svitolina ran to a 40-0 run before an ace was called no good. She didn’t let that bother her as she gained the game point which once more put her in position for the set.

Halep was very much under pressure in the 12^th as she watched Svitolina dictate while she added unforced errors to let the Ukrainian win. Both players were hurting as Svitolina’s groin problems got worse as she stopped playing on a point. It wasn’t going to stop her as she gained life to go the distance with Halep and fight for the championship. The set lasted 56 minutes with Svitolina carrying a heavy advantage that gave her score pressure to move well into the deciding set.

With serve in her end to start, the 22-year-old was forceful with her ground strokes and movements that got Halep to carry herself to get to the ball. It led to the obvious winner to Svitolina and signs of a downfall from the Romanian. Her mind and game were not on point as she missed some easy shots that should have gone in but instead didn’t focus. She paid the price finding herself down 0-2 with the Ukrainian on top. She only saw herself get better as Halep was falling very fast from the competition losing all hope to make a comeback.

It was turning into a fast runaway as Svitolina had a 4-0 rout until a sign of hope arrived in the fifth. Halep pulled off the force of deuce but couldnt put it away in the two breaks that went in play. Neither of those went her way as the world number 11 rallied to hold on and go for the bagel and her first Italian Open championship. Halep wasnt making it easy for Svitolina to win as she found her way to holding serve for the first time in the set but had to still deal with the Ukrainian back on the ball.

While she faced a final push of adversity from the Romanian, Svitolina reached the pivotal championship point where a second attempt landed long of the line making it happen on a third try ending the two hour and seven minute bout that not only put her higher in the rankings but also a first championship in Rome. The victory gave the 22 year old 481,000 Euros but also gave her the rank of fifth best prior to the French Open in a week's time.