Elina Svitolina got her first-round win in strong fashion at the Brisbane International Monday afternoon. The world number six took down Carla Suarez Navarro in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 at Pat Rafter Arena to move into the second round at the Queensland Tennis Centre.
The series between the two is tied with the Spaniard getting through a long three setter in Birmingham that took the Ukrainian out in the first round. With both playing their first match of the new year, the situation would remain the same in Svitolina standing as world number six, hoping to show her strengths right from the start. The Spaniard was on a four-match losing streak and would love nothing more than to send the 23-year-old out of the tournament early.
She didn’t get that chance as the world number five had her act together taking control of the set. Suarez-Navarro got into the set but the Ukrainian was in control of her actions taking things swiftly with winners. She got her third ace in the final stages that allowed her to swiftly take things in 37 minutes. Svitolina had 19 winners through the eight games played clearly putting together a game that she wanted so much to put to use this year.
The Spaniard needed to make a statement and did so with a big fight while playing on Svitolina’s serve. She went deep into the opening game of the second set that went to deuce. After a few breaks, the 29-year-old gained the AD point and a break. She made good of her serve in the second game taking Svitolina for a run that produced a lead. The third seed rallied back to level the score through four with a good hold followed up by a fight on deuce that she got on the second break.
The 23-year-old regained a lead in the fifth with another service hold but she wasn’t out of the woods as Suarez-Navarro leveled in the sixth showing her fight to stay alive. The seventh game was a lengthy one as Svitolina found a way to hold off the Spaniard on deuce. They went to a number of breaks on deuce before getting the win to step ahead. During the break, Suarez Navarro’s coach Marc Casabo came out to keep her spirits up and give her pointers on how to counteract her opponent’s moves.
She found herself in trouble as Svitolina took a 5-4 hold looking to put way the match while she had the chance. She reached match point on the Spaniard to get through the match in 1 hour and 29 minutes.
“It was a good start, Svitolina said during her on court interview. “First match of the year is always tough for everyone. I was trying to be extremely focused on what I had to do on court today and bring my game so I’m very happy to have won in straight sets and pleased with my performance.”
Svitolina will take on Croatia’s Ana Konjuh who she happened to warm up with her prior to her match. “We’ve played a couple of times,” she said. “I know what to expect from her and will try to play my best and see how it goes.”
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