By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, November 1, 2019
Defending champion Elina Svitolina saved two set points in the second set stopping Sofia Kenin 7-5, 7-6(10) to score her eighth straight win at the WTA Finals.
Photo credit: WTA Finals Shenzhen Facebook
Elina Svitolina continues creating successful climaxes in the season-ending event.
Defending champion Svitolina saved two set points in the second set stopping Sofia Kenin 7-5, 7-6(10) to score her eighth straight victory at the WTA Finals Shenzhen.
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It was a spirited finish for Svitolina, who saved a set point when Kenin served for the second set at 5-4 then denied a second set point trailing 9-10 in the tie break before converting her sixth match point to cap a quality and dramatic clash.
Continuing her quest for her first title of the season, Svitolina improved to 9-2 lifetime at the season-ending event.
"Another match, another tie break," Svitolina told Andrew Krasny afterward. "And I'm very very happy that I finished the match in two sets. A very physical match and I had to stay very tough."
Superior serving and Svitolina's speed around the court were key factors at crunch time.
Whipping her slider serve effective, Svitolina slammed 11 aces, while Kenin spit up 10 double faults, including double-faulting away her first set point.
"I was just trying to be focused on what I had to do on the court and fight for every point," Svitolina said. "Sometimes, you don't play your best tennis. So you have to fight through the tough moments, tough games. That's what I was trying to do. I was playing very solid and tried to move very good as well."
The victory caps Svitolina's second straight undefeated run through round-robin play.
The Purple Group champion will play the last woman to qualify for Shenzhen, Belinda Bencic, in tomorrow's semifinals.
The seventh-seeded Bencic was in the crowd scouting this match and has posed problems for Svitolina in the past, winning two of their three prior meetings.
"Definitely, it's gonna be another tough match," Svitolina said. "I'm just gonna try to be ready for tomorrow. I'll get some rest and get ready for the semifinal."
Pressed into action by US Open champion Bianca Andreescu's withdrawal, second alternate Kenin served for both the first and second sets at 5-4 today, but her serve, and Svitolina's unerring counter-strikes, cost the youngest woman in the field.
Serving for the opening set, Kenin could not close.
Svitolina played high-percentage crosscourt shots forcing the baseliner from Pembroke Pines, Florida to try to change direction. Kenin netted a forehand as Svitolina broke back for 5-all.
From 3-5 down, Svitolina surged through five straight games snatching the opening set and a 1-0 lead in the second.
Credit Kenin for continuing to battle. Crunching her groundstrokes with ambition, Kenin saved break point in the eighth game.
Rapping a drive down the line helped the 20-year-old break for a 5-4 second-set lead.
Serving for the second set, Kenin double-faulted to go down 0-30, came back to level but missed a forehand to face break point. Kenin carved out a clean drop shot winner to deny it.
Targeting the American's forehand, Svitolina was solid but Kenin curled a crosscourt forehand winner for set point.
A propensity for double faults pained Kenin at the worst possible points.
Tripping her ninth and 10th double faults into the tape in succession, Kenin faced a second break point but saved it with a gutsy second serve off the line.
Svitolina was sharp hitting on the run and driving balls out of the corners of the court. On her fourth break point, the defending champion coaxed a scattered backhand to break back for 5-all.
Pumping successive aces, Svitolina stamped a love hold to confirm the break.
Staring down match point in the 12th game, Kenin pulled off another drop shot winner to save it stinging three first serves in a row to force the tie break.
Hugging the baseline, Kenin moved in for a high forehand volley for the mini-break and a 3-1 lead. Svitolina answered with her second ace of the tie break and a crackling forehand winner to get back on serve.
When Kenin missed a crosscourt forehand wide, Svitolina gained match point.
One of the most stirring rallies of the match ensued—a crackling 23-shot exchange— as Kenin followed a backhand down the line firing a forehand down the opposite sideline to save a second match point.
Undaunted, Svitolina hit the slider serve wide for a third match point. Kenin denied it but couldn't handle a Svitolina slice and netted a reply for a fourth match point.
Befuddling the eighth seed with another tricky drop shot, Kenin fought off match point to level 8-8.
Still, Svitolina's skill forcing opponents to play one more ball paid dividends as Kenin dragged a backhand wide to face a fifth match point. She saved it with a forehand drive volley to level again.
Amping her aggression, Svitolina saved a second set point for 10-10. The wide serve worked for the Ukrainian again earning Svitolina a sixth match point.
When Kenin slapped a forehand into net, a smiling Svitolina sealed her eighth straight WTA finals win.