Svitolina reaches first US Open semifinal with win over Konta

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Elina Svitolina celebrates during her quarterfinal match against Johanna Konta at the US Open 

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​The match came down to smallest mistakes and for Elina Svitolina, her poise got her into the semifinals of the US Open Tuesday. The world number five drew errors and won free points against Johanna Konta who had too much trouble to end the quarterfinal in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center. The Ukrainian marked her second consecutive major semifinal increasing her career success.
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The series between the two sat heavily with the Ukrainian but Sunday showed that history could be changed. The tenacity and strength Konta found to upset world number three Karolina Pliskova led her to prove that it had the potential to happen again. This was their first meeting in a grand slam and all four of them have come on hard courts. With Svitolina seeking out her second consecutive major semifinal and the Brit looking for her third, the pace had the possibility of swinging in every direction with so much on the line.
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Strong service games started the opening set with Konta leading the way against Svitolina. Each got the other deep into rallies, but no breaks were apparent for either as they held through four games. In the fifth, Svitolina had the first breakpoint but a long ball past the baseline saved Konta’s serve. The Brit battled through two breaks but enabled a second chance for the fifth seed who clinched it to take the lead.
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Upping the ante to consolidate a break was challenged by the Brit who overcame a three-point streak and broke back keeping them level. A key mistake on a drop shot in the seventh gave the Ukrainian another break chance. She tried to do it again during the rally to save breakpoint but Svitolina got into position for the ball fast, ending it for the double.
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To not give away another break, the fifth seed held firm on serve but dealt with some late changes to Konta’s return tactics. Handling the situation, Svitolina pressured unforced errors from Konta to open the gap on the scoreboard and play for the set. Konta made sure not to let it end on her service and sealed the deal to get back into reach of extending the set. Svitolina had no intention of letting her serve to go waste and with drawn errors from Konta, the fifth seed got the job done gaining a leg up after 49 minutes.
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The second went the same as the first with Svitolina staying with Konta until her chance for the break came in the fifth with the Brit trailing in the game. She forced deuce but the first AD point was the last as the fifth seed locked it down for the 3-2 lead. Konta fought to avoid going down two games battling Svitolina to deuce and saved key points. Three was the charm for Konta who delivered a great baseline lob getting over the net and no chance for the fifth seed to return.
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Knowing she missed an opportunity to hold a service game, Svitolina captured the double break on Konta who erred on chances suffering the break to love. Consolidation for the world number five gave her a 5-3 stance hoping to smash the Brit on serve in the ninth. Errors continued to rack up for Konta who fell behind but gained one back on a longball return from the Ukrainian. A second error leveled the score for the Brit but a bad hit off the racket giving Svitolina match point.

History made! 👏@ElinaSvitolina defeats Johanna Konta 6-4, 6-4 to become the first Ukrainian woman to reach the SFs in Flushing Meadows.#USOpen | #WomenWorthWatching pic.twitter.com/kfV6sAQDZC

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 3, 2019

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She erred to save Konta for the second time in the match and after a few breaks of deuce, the Briton saved a second match point that kept her alive. Svitolina again found her chance to serve for the match and with great response during a wide crosscourt rally and aggressive response, the 24-year-old won her way into the semifinal watching a long crosscourt return land wide right near her ending the match in 1 hour and 40 minutes.
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"It was a very tough match," Svitolina said to ESPN's Pam Shriver. "I think we were both striking the ball and it was quite even and in the end, I had to close on my serve which was very tricky and just very happy with how I handle the pressure today." I was trying to take one point at a time and for me I was trying to stay calm and tried to think that I'm still up and have a chance to close the match again."
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With one step between the 24-year-old before the final, she’ll wait to see if she faces Serena Williams or Qiang Wang on Thursday.

Svitolina cracks into the last eight with straight sets win over Keys at US Open

Elina Svitolina celebrates her first round of 16 win at the US Open in straight sets over Madison Keys

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Elina Svitolina had a strong service game and kept the pressure high to move into her first US Open quarterfinal Sunday night. A relaxed and focused straight sets win over Madison Keys ended her opponent’s 10 match win streak at Arthur Ashe Stadium with a 7-5, 6-4 result at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center. The 24-year-old officially marked her place in the quarterfinal of every single grand slam.

This marked the fourth match between the two with the American leading the series including her win two years ago. The Illinois native had yet to drop a set and held off Sofia Kenin from getting a leg up on her in the third round. The world number five had a similar result against Dayana Yastremska who she blanked in the second set.

Having yet to drop a set, the two top ten players would likely go to the brink of their match. Svitolina once again had a chance to surpass her round of 16 finish and would have a challenge getting any leverage against the 2017 finalist of the tournament.

The American opened with a 111mph ace but struggled with the first serve at times. She managed to hold serve against the fifth seed but found little chance of breaking the Ukrainian. After five service holds, Svitolina had a slight edge winning 9 of 9 from the first serve. Her first double fault was committed in the sixth but held firm to remain even with Keys. The fifth seed produced a chance for a break in the following game, but the defense from the 10^th seed shut the opportunity down maintain the pace for her benefit.

After the four-all tie, Keys not only upped her ace record to six but sent it to Svitolina at 122 mph. It set up a strong service hold from Keys pressuring the Ukrainian to falter. Errors assisted in the tenth straight service hold with Svitolina gaining a shot at the set. The backhand let the American down setting up two break points but a recovery of crosscourt winners brought the tenth seed to deuce.

Two smothered forehands gave Svitolina the break needed to serve for the set at 6-5.  

A good net-front crosscourt opened scoring for the world number five who painted the line on a great return. With an error giving her two set points, Svitolina watched a wide return from Keys put the set to rest after 38 minutes. It was the 21^st of the set that practically negated the 20 winners she produced.

To get back on the right track, Keys put together a strong service game in the second set. Svitolina looked to take advantage but committed the second double fault of the match. Errors blew her 40-0 start but held with another forehand from Keys going into the net. An early break arrived for the Ukrainian as the errors from the 10^th seed racked up quickly. They returned to service holds where the lead remained with Svitolina after seven.

.@ElinaSvitolina completes the quarterfinals for the bottom half at the @usopen!

She knocks out Keys in a tough 7-5, 6-4 decision--> https://t.co/s2XTYTuFSy pic.twitter.com/86Uyi33vhT

— WTA (@WTA) September 2, 2019

A key hold made it 5-3 for the fifth seed putting Keys on the edge with a hold needed to stay alive. Drawn errors by Svitolina kept the American in the hunt with a line drive winner clinching the ninth on serve. The fifth seed cruised to victory with Keys continuing the onslaught of backhand errors that finished the match in 1 hour and 14 minutes.

“It was really good serving for me tonight,” Svitolina said to ESPN reporter Renee Stubbs. “I was feeling very good with my footwork as well and very pleased that I could play very consistent tonight and to play in such a great atmosphere is very special.”

It was the first time Keys lost a match at night ending a decade long streak of success. With the motivation moving her into Tuesday match against Johanna Konta, Svitolina had her eyes set on further progress. “It’s gonna be another great battle and looking forward to facing her she said. “We always had some tough matches and for me, it’s gonna be another challenge which I’m going to accept and go out there and play my best game.”

Svitolina schools Yastremska to reach round of 16 at US Open

Elina Svitolina celebrates a strong outcome against Dayana Yastremska in the third round of the US Open. 

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Dayana Yastremska was schooled to destruction at the US Open Friday night. Elina Svitolina  showed her the ropes playing beautiful tennis at Louis Armstrong Stadium to win 6-2, 6-0 at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center.

The up and coming Ukrainian took on her idol compatriot for the first time. In what was a long-awaited matchup, the two Ukrainians had plenty of tactics to use on one another leaving the fifth seed to prepare for anything that Yastremska brought to the hardcourt. The 19-year-old won more WTA titles faster than Svitolina that showed her ability to pull off an upset. With her experienced opponent having yet dropped a set the teen would need to pressure and keep it heavily with focus.

Yastremska served to open the match but erred twice, double-faulted and gave the break to Svitolina on a forehand shot going wide. Eight points went one way with the 24-year-old drawing errors from Yastremska who was not yet up to speed. Her points streak increased to nine before Svitolina’s first error ended one-way traffic. It didn’t take anything from the fifth seed as she watched the errors continue from Yastremska who fell three games down and two double faults committed.

The 24-year-old committed her first double but soon had a second recorded giving Yastremska a break chance. An ace from Svitolina forced deuce but her young opponent showed slight improvement warming up for the challenge. A failed challenge followed by a wide return blew her best chance to get on the board and instead sat 0-4. Opportunities to serve a good game came in the fifth when Svitolina erred enough to see the 19-year-old smash a pair of winners that ended her slide.

She fought well in the sixth but came up short of a break watching Svitolina hold on a break of deuce. Linking a second hold allowed Yastremska to get comfortable with her commitment level using it to test Svitolina. Serving for the set, the 24-year-old got into trouble with the first serve forehand and the sudden range of Yastremska who fought for a breakpoint. Svitolina put down her third ace and watched a fast return go long ending the first in 31 minutes. Having a better handing of her serve than Yastremska who made 19 unforced errors, the fifth seed was comfortably in control.

She rolled it into the second set earning two break points before taking the game from the teen. Consolidating the break was a piece of cake as her opponent racked more errors on the return sending her back into a grown deficit. A fourth double fault troubled the 32^nd seed who despite playing a great 20 shot rally was once again broken apart. Svitolina carried on and held firm in the fourth as her opponent made primary mistakes that only led to getting to the finish easier for her compatriot.

.@ElinaSvitolina advances to the second week of the @usopen for a third time with a victory over compatriot Dayana Yastremska --> https://t.co/8xgdgojEAD pic.twitter.com/0y0Rmfgklh

— WTA (@WTA) August 31, 2019

A triple break for the world number five set her to serve for the match in the sixth where she handled a tricky drop shot but earned two match points to end 54 minutes with Yastremska recording her 36^th unforced error.

“It was definitely a special moment for Ukraine,” Svitolina said to Andrew Krasny after the match. “Me and Dayana are from the same city in Odessa so it was a special match for the both of us.”

While they didn’t play evening, the fifth seed had a terrific outcome with a serve percentage above 80 percent and notched just seven winners and outscored the teen 54-27 “I think I was very consistent from the baseline,” she said. “I was serving very good at the moments that I had to and in the end, I think the experience played a little bit tonight and very pleased so far with the way I’m playing and looking forward to the next match.”

  

Svitolina takes down Venus Williams in straight sets

Elina Svitolina wins a hard fight against Venus Williams at the 2019 US Open

Elina Svitolina had to work hard for the second time in the late end of her match but moved on at the US Open Wednesday. The fifth seed defended and held back Venus Williams more than a few times in the match but won 6-4, 6-4 at Louis Armstrong Stadium in the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center. It marked the third win against the tennis superstar and the second to come on the hardcourt surface.

A fourth meeting put the two in their second grand slam face-off where the leverage stood with the Ukrainian. Svitolina has a win over the tennis veteran on the hard courts giving her a shot at pulling together another one to improve her US Open record. The challenge Svitolina faced against the young American was a tough start but facing Williams gave her an opportunity to take the offense and dictate.

Svitolina began with good returns that drew errors from Williams to earn the early break. The 39-year-old tried to step up but let a few points slip away and give Svitolina the hold. She held firm to avoid going a double break down with a serve to love in the third. Going for the break, Williams tried to notch a break but errors kept her from clinching the coveted AD point. After three breaks, the 39-year-old hit another forehand long to sit two down.

She battled hard on serve in the fifth to recover but Svitolina was still on lock during her service game to contain a lead. Her strengths helped get her a double break on Williams to sit with a 5-2 stand and the tennis veteran close to sitting in a large hole. Frustrations continued to cause Williams to commit unforced errors losing her shot for the break. On a second attempt, a good rally ended with Svitolina sending a crosscourt return just long to make it 5-3.

Cutting in closer for Williams was a heavy task as she overcame the mistakes to force deuce in the ninth showing key patience. Her second double fault handed Svitolina a third set point but was canceled out with a backhand return just missing wide. The door opened for Williams after the second break where another long ball from the Ukrainian put her down a game from evening up. With the need to hold off her opponent’s comeback, Svitolina battled hard to defend her end and on her fourth set point, it came on William’s 23^rd error ending 49 minutes.

After a short break off court, Williams returned to open the second set with a strong service game. Adding a break put the former world number one on the right track making good runs for the point while increasing the difficulty on rallies for Svitolina. Overcoming a 0-40 gap in the third gave Williams a chance on deuce and get a 3-0 in the set. When it looked as if Venus had the problems off her shoulders, they returned only to leave the door wide open for Svitolina.

The errors in the fourth allowed the fifth seed to hold off a late push from Williams before breaking her with errors drawn out to consolidate. Movement from the 39-year-old also lessened on court leading to a complete comeback for Svitolina. The lead change came next with Williams committing her fourth double fault of the set and sixth total negating the start she put together.

Elina Svitolina reacts to a missed point during her second-round match against Venus Williams at the 2019 US Open 

Svitolina had a fifth game under her belt cruising through her service in the eighth to play for the match with her opponent in trouble. Committing a seventh double fault was how the ninth game began for Williams. Despite getting back the lead, the Ukrainian forced deuce and gained a match point only to be away from a perfect crosscourt return from Williams. A big mistake from the 39-year-old handed the fifth seed a second try but played long ball to get her to struggle with getting the ball over the net. The added pressure didn’t deter Svitolina who played eight breaks and 16 minutes but came up short to break Williams for the victory.

The 24-year-old was left with one chance left to get it done or see the match become harder. Drawing errors from the American was the key to her serving for the match and with a sixth attempt at getting into the third round, it was over on a long return from Williams to end the day in 1 hour and 52 minutes.

“It was a really incredible match,” Svitolina said to Pam Shriver of ESPN. “It was the best I’ve played making it really special to play Venus who pushed me to raise my level.” When asked about the turnaround Williams made winning seven of eight, the fifth seed responded about her tactics.

“I had to stay very focused and play every point to the last one and try to put one extra ball over the net,” she said. “I was expecting her to raise her level and she’s very experienced player and knows how to handle the moments like this. I was expecting a very tough and we could see in the end that a few points decided it all.” With the gratefulness of getting her match done under weather conditions, the Ukrainian would go into Friday awaiting either compatriot Dayana Yastremska or Rebecca Peterson in the third round.