By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, September 3, 2019
NEW YORK—Tugging tightly on her black visor, Elina Svitolina sharpened her focus and realized major vision.
The fifth-seeded Svitolina carved up Johanna Konta 6-4, 6-4 becoming the first Ukrainian woman to reach the US Open semifinals.
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“It feels amazing,” Svitolina told ESPN’s Pam Shriver afterward. “And I mean it was very, very tough match.
“I think we were both fighting. It was quite even and then at the end I had to close on my serve which was quite tricky. I’m very happy with the way I handled the pressure today.”
It is Svitolina’s second straight major semifinal following her run to the Wimbledon final four where she fell to eventual-champion Simona Halep.
The departures of Halep, world No. 1 Naomi Osaka and Roland Garros champion Ashleigh Barty means we will see a fourth different women’s Grand Slam champion.
Contesting her 29th major, Svitolina has not dropped a set in five tournament wins, including knocking off seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams and seeds Dayana Yastremska, Madison Keys and Konta in succession.
Svitolina has permitted just 19 games in her last three tournament victories advancing to her first US Open semifinal—and earning a $960,000 pay day in the process ensuring she will rise to at least world No. 3.
"Definitely for all the Ukrainians it’s not so easy when you are a kid when you are growing up you don’t have so much opportunity to travel," Svitolina said. "That's why we are extremely motivated when we get the chance."
Though she’s yet to reach a major final, Svitolina has been a superb closer when she gets to a title match boasting an outstanding 13-2 record in career finals.
The 24-year-old baseliner will face either 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams or 18th-seeded Chinese Wang Qiang for a spot in Saturday’s final—and a shot at collecting her first major championship the $3.85 million champion’s check.
Today’s first quarterfinal followed the same script of the past four meetings between the pair.
On pivotal points, Svitolina didn’t miss, while Konta sometimes over-hit. Svitolina converted four of eight break points and drained 35 unforced errors from Konta in 20 games.
"Haven't beat her yet," Konta said. "I do feel that was the probably the best I felt her play against me. She played so well, to be honest. Actually, I didn't play badly at all. I actually felt like I was doing a lot of good things out there, a lot of the right things.
"She just made me play that extra ball. I mean, it's frustrating. You know, I would have loved to have come through that and come through a challenge like her, but I guess it will just have to be next time."
Bidding to become the sixth active woman to reach the semifinals at all four majors, Konta ran into trouble in the fifth game.
A twisting return pushed Konta back, Svitolina stepped in and zapped an inside-out forehand forcing a stretched error to earn the first break for 3-2.
One reason Svitolina swept all four of her prior meetings with the more mechanical Briton is her speed around the court, skill soaking up Konta’s pace and her precision redirecting drives down the line.
Svitolina is so light on her feet her sneakers barely made a sound as she danced to her left and lifted a crosscourt backhand pass scoring her second straight break in the seventh game.
The 16th-seeded Konta knew she needed to assert her offense to crack the code Svitolina presents, but denting her defense proved problematic.
Playing on the sunny side of the court, a spinning Svitolina flicked a slick high backhand volley that helped her hold for 5-3.
A willingness to move forward can distinguish Konta in this match-up and she showed it streaking forward for an under-spinning drop volley to deny set point. Scattering her 14th error, Konta faced a second set point.
The WTA Finals champion dug in and forced the Briton to play dragging a floating slice backhand to snatch a one-set lead with a clenched fist toward boyfriend—and fellow quarterfinalist Gael Monfils—and coach Andrew Bettles.
The mental challenge for Konta was clear: how do you dent the defense of a player who plays so cleanly and sees the court so clearly? Fighting off a jamming body serve, Svitolina stayed within herself and drew a 25th unforced error from her opponent breaking for a 3-2 second-set lead.
Seeing Svitolina drift behind the baseline, Konta slid a clever forehand drop shot into the frontcourt breaking back in the sixth game.
That was a temporary reprieve.
The fifth-seeded Ukrainian had Konta lunging for replies on the backhand side surging out to triple break point before bolting a backhand pass down the line. The fourth break of the day put Svitolina back in front, 4-3.
Still, Konta hung tough fending off two match points to hold in the ninth game.
Sprinting sideline-to-sideline, Svitolina lifted a running backhand pass crosscourt for another match point.
On her third match point, Svitolina drew one final errant backhand error and thrust her arms high in the sky.
Two Grand Slam semifinals in succession signify a stronger Svitolina.
"I think I'm generally stronger. Mentally I'm handling the pressure points better," Svitolina said. "For sure, you know, sometimes it's possible that you're not there on that day, not playing your best. But you try to find your own path, your own way how to handle those kind of moments."
Clad in a canary-colored shirt, Monfils stood and applauded girlfriend Svitolina,
"Definitely, we are pushing each other," Svitolina said of Monfils, who plays 24th-seeded Matteo Berrettini in tomorrow's quarterfinals on Ashe Stadium. "I think we are trying to join each other in the quarterfinals and semifinals. For him now he needs to step up his game."