By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, September 5, 2021
Elina Svitolina beat Simona Halep for the first time in a major 6-3, 6-3, rolling into the US Open quarterfinals with her ninth straight win.
Photo credit: Brad Penner/USTA/US Open
Empowered by her Windy City title, a streaking Elina Svitolina continues breezing through the Flushing Meadows field.
A streaking Svitolina stopped Simona Halep for the first time in a major 6-3, 6-3, rolling into the US Open quarterfinals with her ninth straight win.
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The fifth-ranked Svitolina charged into her second straight US Open quarterfinal following her run to the final four in 2019.
In a rematch of the 2019 Wimbledon semifinalist, the 26-year-old Svitolina played proactive tennis on key points today. Svitolina converted four of 11 break points and whipped her backhand down the line with ambition at crunch time avenging her 6-1, 6-3 thrashing at Halep’s hands in the Wimbledon semifinals.
"Regarding the roof, I don't think it made a huge difference because it's for both of us. We had some matches indoors, outdoors, different surface, different kind of situations," Svitolina said. "Regarding the second part of both sets, I think in the first set the key game was coming back from 15-40 at 3-All.
"It was really important to take one point at a time and fight to come back. I think it was really strong performance from me on the important moments, even when Simona came back in the second set to break me again."
It’s been a life-changing summer for Svitolina, who married long-time partner Gael Monfils on July 16th. In lieu of a honeymoon, the couple traveled to the Tokyo Olympic Games where Svitolina rallied from 1-4 down in the final set of the bronze-medal match to conquer Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, 1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 and claim Ukraine's first Olympic tennis medal.
The fifth-ranked Ukrainian tuned up for New York collecting her 16th career title in Chicago last month. Svitolina is riding that moment at the Open blowing through four wins without surrendering a set.
Thirty-two minutes into the match, Halep pasted a backhand into net gifting the beak and a 5-3 lead to Svitolina.
Though Svitolina’s average second serve speed was 73 mph in the set, she defended it well winning seven of 10 second-serve points. Svitolina saved two of three break points building a one-set lead after 34 minutes.
"Well, it's been a tough match. She played really well, very constant," Halep said. "She didn't miss much. She was strong on the legs, running very well.
"So all the credit to her. She had a very good match. From my side, a bit tired, a bit stressed before the match. It's normal. But it's been a good tournament. I take the positives only from this week."
When the 2019 Wimbledon winner put a backhand off the tape giving Svitolina the break and a 2-1 second-set lead, Halep looked out of sorts.
One rousing run turned it around. Pushed into the doubles alley, Halep sprinted to the opposite alley banging a backhand pass crosscourt to help her break right back.
A revitalized Halep ran off nine of 11 points driving the ball down the line to hold for 3-2.
Both women were swinging freely engaging in dynamic points in the seventh game. Svitolina sent a shot that slithered off the baseline for a second break point. Halep had a good look at her signature shot—the backhand down the line—but found the top of the tape as Svitolina scored her fourth break for 4-3.
Serving to extend the match, Halep hammered an ace to save a second match point. Swooping forward, Svitolina slashed a drive volley for a third match point. When Halep’s final drive expired into net, Svitolina was through to the quarterfinals in 76 minutes.
The most accomplished active player on the WTA Tour yet to reach a major final, Svitolina will be favored against either 2016 US Open champion Angelique Kerber or 18-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez for a spot in the final four. Svitolina is 9-6 lifetime vs. Kerber and won her lone clash vs. Fernandez, 6-4, 7-5, in the 2020 Monterrey quarterfinals.
"Always we have a good matches. Again, it's going to be another big challenge for me," Svitolina said of possibly facing former No. 1 Kerber. "Another good player. I'm looking forward to that one if it's going to be her. Regarding Fernandez, played once in Monterrey. She was striking the ball already good there. It was a tough match for me. I think was 7-5, 7-5, something like that. I really saw in that time that she can play great tennis. Right now we can see that she improved. She started to believe more, I guess, in herself. Beating Naomi, it's a good sign that she's playing well.
"It's going to be interesting match between Angie and Fernandez, so we will see how it goes. Either way for me it's important to focus on my game and to bring my best game to quarterfinal."