The two were in it for a third time with the embers still hot from their final in Monterrey. Svitolina edged the Czech for the title in three sets that stood as the last official tournament with fans. Since the pause, they both shook off the rust, hoping that their progress so far this season would be in preparation for the year’s first slam. As Svitolina continued to search for her maiden slam win, it was going to be a big task in taking on the 22-year-old who stood in her path.
Svitolina breezed into her opening service game, holding the Czech to a couple of points. Bouzkova responded with a shutout of the fifth seed, making a point that she would not be going down easily. The Ukrainian answered with a strong hold and tied a break into her widening the gap to 3-1. Svitolina was on cruise control as she served through another game to take a three-game lead on Bouzkova.
The Czech recorded another victory on serve, giving Svitolina a challenge which she responded by forcing deuce. Bouzkova didn’t let it get past a break, holding the first AD point played. Svitolina didn’t let a second game loss get away from her and went into the seventh with a hold of serve. Bouzkova answered with a shutout of Svitolina on serve in the eighth before trying to add another in the ninth.
Svitolina quickly had two set points to her name but saw them erased on a return winner from the Czech and an error on her own backhand. Despite playing three breaks, the fifth seed held it together, waiting for her time and scored on a forehand winner ending 44 minutes of play. Svitolina won 73 percent of her games and had three aces recorded so far. Knowing that her success paid off the Ukrainian was ready to dig in some more.
Svitolina allowed Bouzkova one point in her service game before taking it swiftly for the break. The Czech answered with a break back before taking the lead in the third. The next five games were service holds with Bouzkova staying ahead of the fifth seed. Svitolina’s game was tested to its limit as Bouzkova forced her opponent to deuce. In what became the longest game, they played seven breaks, until the fifth seed found a way to come out on top.
The 22-year-old was relentless in keeping the lead over Svitolina who at one point got into a 28 shot rally. By the time ten games were in play, Svitolina had the score level with very little room to maneuver. The 11th was another battle for control with Svitolina playing every point like it was her last. Despite producing break point attempts, Svitolina failed to counteract giving Bouzkova the lead once more.
Svitolina made it her mission to hold it with all her might, giving Bouzkova very little to set up the tiebreak. The fifth seed took the first two points before the Czech got on the board from her serve. After five points, Svitolina was out front but soon made a forehand error into the net that made it three-all. The next pair of points went to each of them as they made their mark with a fierce intensity that they wanted the win.
Bouzkova committed a bad smash that gave Svitolina a point for 5-4, nailing the right pattern of shots to beat her again. She brought together two match points with one of them saved on a net-front return by Bouzkova. The Ukrainian put the match to rest as they had one last rally lasting 11 shots when the young Czech hit it into the net ending a nail-biting two hours.
"It was a really tough battle today," said Svitolina after the match. "I was really happy that I could get through in two sets because it's really hot out here." "I was fighting very good today and strong mentally and not let the errors change my mind and just trying to fight for every point. I think in the end, the big points I stayed really aggressive and this was the key to win in two sets."
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