Svitolina Comeback and Advances to Quarterfinals at Roland Garros
Elina Svitolina, with an outstanding performance, managed to overcome Jasmine Paolini in an exciting round of 16 match at the 2024 Roland Garros. Svitolina, after saving three match points, came back to defeat Paolini with scores of 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, securing her fifth appearance in the quarterfinals of the prestigious tournament.
The Ukrainian tennis player, currently seeded as number 13, demonstrated her resilience and fighting spirit on the court. Despite being a semifinalist on three occasions in Grand Slam tournaments (twice at Wimbledon and once at the US Open), Svitolina seeks to break the barrier of the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, where she has yet to advance.
In her next challenge, Svitolina will face Iga Swiatek, the current champion of the tournament, who also staged a comeback. Swiatek, after losing the first set and being down in the second, managed to defeat Elena Rybakina with a score of 1-6, 6-3, 7-5.
In the other quarter-final match, Aryna Sabalenka, world number 1, will face Zheng Qinwen, number 8. Sabalenka, with a dominant game, defeated Amanda Anisimova with a score of 7-5, 6-3. For her part, Zheng Qinwen achieved a victory over Liudmila Samsonova with partials of 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-3.
Jasmine Paolini, who came into the match with a nine-match winning streak, including a title at the Italian Open, was close to victory. Paolini, after serving for the match with a one-set and one-break lead in the second, failed to capitalize on her advantage, allowing Svitolina’s comeback.Despite the defeat, Paolini showed a great level of play, but Svitolina knew how to remain calm and take advantage of the opportunities.
Alofoke Deportes
In the second set tiebreak, Paolini had another opportunity to close out the match, but Svitolina managed to win a crucial point with a winning volley. From that moment on, Svitolina took control of the game, securing a 4-0 lead in the third set and sealing her place in the quarterfinals.
Svitolina, known for her performance on clay, where she has achieved 16 of her 27 victories of the season, expressed her surprise and satisfaction with the outcome of the match. “I still can’t believe this match ended this way. My mind is still in the battle,” commented Svitolina.
The Ukrainian tennis player also highlighted the difficulty of the situation in her home country, mentioning that the war in Ukraine is a constant in her mind. “It’s something that all Ukrainians live with daily, with the bad news. That’s why, when I’m on the court, I focus on my work, on my tennis, and I try to achieve these victories to keep the Ukrainian flag flying for my country,” said Svitolina.
Iga Swiatek, for her part, acknowledged the difficulty of the match against Rybakina, but was pleased with her ability to react. Swiatek’s victory keeps her in pursuit of her fourth consecutive title at Roland Garros, a feat only achieved by Jeanne Matthey and Suzanne Lenglen.
Aryna Sabalenka, who has reached the quarterfinals in ten consecutive Grand Slams, expressed her ambition to go all the way in the tournament. In addition, four American tennis players will compete in the fourth round on Monday: Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Madison Keys.
