Svitolina cruises to victory in straight sets over Friedsam

Elina Svitolina waves to the crowd after her first-round match against Anna-Lena Friedsam at the US Open. 

Elina Svitolina kept laser-focused to come through in spectacular fashion at the US Open on Tuesday. Anna Lena Friedsam was no match for the tactics the Ukrainian brought to court 17, winning 6-3, 6-1 in just under an hour at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center. It was the fifth opening victory in a row for Svitolina, who played in her sixth tournament since becoming a mother. 

The two met for the first time, allowing the Ukrainian to have another solid opening to her strongest major of the year. Since her return from maternity five months ago, Svitolina gained the attention of the tennis world, making it to the semifinal of Wimbledon and quarterfinals at Roland Garros and Washington DC. She took time off to prepare for the Open so that she could vie for a second-week spot for the fifth year in a row. The German hasn’t been at her best, dealing with injuries over the last six years. Her 6-10 record in first-round slams, leaves her with a slim chance to upset the 26th seed.

She opened the service with a couple of drop shots that beat the 28-year-old. Svitolina struck back staying balanced to recover the deficit and force deuce. Friedsam captured the AD point to avoid producing a break opportunity on serve. Svitolina served the German to love, coming out hot with the forehand. Friedsam didn’t get clean through the third but held serve to make things clear to her opponent. The Ukrainian didn’t let Friedsam’s game bother her and put together a second straight love service.

In the fifth, the 26th seed pushed Friedsam to hit another ball, bringing up her first breakpoint chance. The German denied her the first, but the Ukrainian pressed on her second to gain the lead at 3-2. She comfortably backed up the break on serve to open the gap on Friedsam, ready to hunt down more. Despite struggling to get to the balls near the net, the German avoided the double break, putting herself back in reach after seven games.

Svitolina had yet to drop a service game, inching herself closer to the set, with Friedsam playing to stay in it. The German got into place for game point, but Svitolina ravaged back to force deuce. It didn’t take her long to have set point in place, smacking a winning lob while at the net to finish the first in 35 minutes. It was the 11th winner posted in the set, showing her dominant form against Friedsam, who had four but notched 12 total errors and a rough second serve.

Svitolina jumped off her seat and got back to work to begin the second set, allowing Friedsam to get another break point opportunity. The Ukrainian forced deuce and didn’t give another break point to clear the service. She attacked the German at the body, taking the second game, and flew to a 5-0 run, winning nine of the next ten points.

Friedsam was all but out, yet found a way to serve Svitolina to love in the sixth, avoiding the shutout. The 28-year-old didn’t mind missing the flawless victory, serving the German to love in the seventh. It was a 59-minute mission accomplished for the 26th seed, who fired off 26 winners and made only four unforced errors in the match.