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By Tennis Now | Saturday, September 26, 2020

 
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Elina Svitolina defused Elena Rybakina 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 in the Internationaux de Strasbourg final to collect her second title of the season.

Photo credit: Internationaux de Strasbourg Facebook

Power players couldn't solve Elina Svitolina in Strasbourg.

The second-seeded Svitolina defused Elena Rybakina 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 in the Internationaux de Strasbourg final to collect her 15th career title.

More: Inside Roland Garros Women's Draw

It was Svitolina's second title of the year following her title run in Monterrey in March.




The former world No. 3 took down two of tennis' hardest hitters in succession edging Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in Friday's semifinals before dispatching the fifth-seeded Rybakina, who was playing her fifth final of the season.

Svitolina saved eight of 10 break points and won the final four games to seal a one hour, 53-minute victory.

The final was delayed due to rain and was played in cold, damp conditions, which sometimes can favor the bigger hitter.

In this case, Svitolina's precision—she committed 23 unforced errors, 11 fewer than Rybakina—and her serving down the stretch were key components to her win. Svitolina won eight straight points on serve in closing the match.




“It was important to regroup and to get back into the match. It was really positive stuff for me,” Svitolina said. “Normally the tournaments are playing in really hot conditions.

The two-time Roland Garros quarterfinalist will carry a 15-7 record on the season into Paris.

"We were happy to finish today. In the end we got lucky to play. It’s different conditions to what we were expecting. I handled these conditions and the conditions well here in Strasbourg.”

 

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