Svitolina wins against Venus Williams in straight sets at Wimbledon

Elina Svitolina in action on No. 1 court against Venus Williams at the Championships Wimbledon. 

Elina Svitolina was a true sportsman against a legendary player at the Championships Wimbledon Monday. Her match against Venus Williams went straight sets, where the Ukrainian won 6-4, 6-3 on Court One at the All England Tennis Club. The opening round saw a scary moment by the American, who nearly saw her 24th appearance end suddenly, but played through in high esteem.

The two met for the fifth time, and the first to occur on grass. Both made their way back to the WTA tour, with neither of them finding success. The Ukrainian had it worse, losing quickly in her opening round at Nottingham. The surface is not Svitolina’s forte despite the semifinal appearance she had in 2019. The American tennis veteran got time to return to action, playing every grass tournament where she was issued a spot. Williams did better in Birmingham, defeating Camila Giorgi in three sets. Since 2020, the 43-year-old notched her sixth win, hoping to do so against the world number 76 on center court.

Williams opened serve with a double fault, giving a hint that the bandage on her right leg would be an issue. She overcame the short deficit to take the offense to Svitolina and hold serve. She tied in a break, bringing the backhand into her attack against the Ukrainian. Svitolina got the break back, but on the last point Williams slipped in her attempt to return. She let out a loud scream throughout the court and remained on the ground for a minute. The 43-year-old got up on her own, and sat on the bench to be checked out by the trainer.

Play resumed after a four-minute break, with Svitolina serving to level the score. She put herself into a love service position, getting the win on a well-placed winner. She consolidated a break in the fifth, watching Williams continue to stay behind the baseline, smacking a return into the net. The 28-year-old held the sixth to take a 4-2 lead as Williams focused on her leg to make sure she was good to continue playing.

The American remained behind the baseline on serve in the seventh, going to deuce with Svitolina, who watched a crosscourt winner land to her left. The Ukrainian sped through her serve in the eighth to play for the set on Williams's service. The American was forced to deuce, where she battled Svitolina to capture the serve and sit a game down. The 28-year-old attempted to serve out the set, but Williams found a way to bring up a breakpoint.

Svitolina served up a smart backhand that was sure to error the 43-year-old and force deuce. Williams countered for a second break chance, but the Ukrainian saved it to bring up a second set point and close out the first in 48 minutes. The American had four double faults and 18 unforced errors, leaving her opponent to bring out her best. The 28-year-old nailed 15 winners and scored on 10 of 12 points from the second serve.

Williams notched another double fault in the second set, but it didn’t deter her from painting beautiful winners down the line. Despite her efforts to hold serve, Svitolina broke into the game to take the game away and attempt to consolidate. The Ukrainian erred to get Williams to deuce, but after a break, Svitolina achieved the hold. Williams found a way to hold serve in the third, despite handing her opponent an early break.

The 28-year-old did well in the fourth to jump ahead 3-1, going for a break to love a chance in the fifth. Williams denied her a shutout, but a double fault made it 4-1 for the Ukrainian. Svitolina backed up the break to stand 5-1 against the American, who served to stay alive in the match. Williams notched a second win in the set, letting Svitolina suffer the errors to the applause of the crowd.

They wanted more time to watch the tennis veteran play, witnessing her break Svitolina. Once the Ukrainian returned to service, she reached match point to see it end on a challenge from the American, who saw Hawkeye call the ball in on the baseline ending the match in 1 hour and 31 minutes.

“It’s always a pleasure to play against Venus,” said Svitolina to Annabelle Croft of the BBC. “I’ve played against her so many times in almost every slam, and it was a really special moment to play on a special court against a legend.” The two played 130 points, with Svitolina the one serving better on the day. “Venus plays really quick,” she said of her opponent. “I had to work really hard for today’s win.”

The 28-year-old awaits the winner between Viktoria Hruncakova and Elise Mertens for the second round on Wednesday.