Elina Svitolina understood the significance of this match. The Ukrainian tennis player found herself trailing a set against a Russian rival. The spectators in attendance, many of whom were part of the large Ukrainian community in the Greater Toronto Area, were deeply engaged in every point of the National Bank Open quarterfinal on an emotionally charged Monday night.
Despite the initial challenge, Svitolina rallied and secured a spot in the semifinals. The ninth seed and 2017 tournament champion overcame a tough start to defeat Ekaterina Alexandrova with a score of 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 on centre court at Sobeys Stadium.
“I had to really search for opportunities,” Svitolina commented. “I managed to rediscover my game.”
In the upcoming match on Wednesday, Svitolina will face Iga Swiatek for a chance to advance to the final. Swiatek, the seventh seed and a six-time Grand Slam winner, advanced by defeating Diana Shnaider, also from Russia, with a score of 6-2, 6-1.
The remaining women’s singles quarterfinal matches are scheduled for Tuesday. The second seed, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, will compete against the 11th seed, Naomi Osaka of Japan. In another match, the fourth seed, Coco Gauff of the United States, will face the 12th seed, Belinda Bencic of Switzerland.
Reflecting on the energy from the crowd and on the court during Monday’s late session, especially given the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Svitolina expressed, “I feel a little bit more pressure than playing any other player. Toronto has a significant Ukrainian presence, and their support is invaluable to me.”
Svitolina’s victory was crucial following a challenging first set where she committed three double faults. She bounced back in the subsequent sets, capitalizing on break-point opportunities to secure the win in one hour and 33 minutes.
Having previously defeated Swiatek twice this season, Svitolina emphasized the importance of physical endurance for the upcoming match, anticipating long rallies and a tough competition.
Swiatek, on the other hand, dominated her quarterfinal match against Shnaider, displaying exceptional form and control throughout the game. She expressed satisfaction with her performance, particularly in adapting to the challenging weather conditions during the match.
As the semifinals approach, both Svitolina and Swiatek are poised for a competitive showdown, with strong support expected from their respective fans.
In a separate event, Canadian doubles pair Duncan Chan and Alexis Galarneau concluded their impressive run in the men’s National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal with a quarterfinal loss to the team of Mate Pavic from Croatia and Marcelo Arevalo from El Salvador. Despite their defeat, Chan and Galarneau showcased commendable performance throughout the tournament, including notable victories over higher-ranked opponents in the earlier rounds.