Historic Rome WTA 1000 run: Ukrainian Svitolina beats Williams' record, joins elite ranks
Elina Svitolina with the Rome WTA 1000 trophy (photo: instagram.com/internazionalibnlditalia)
Ukrainian tennis leader Elina Svitolina, after winning her 20th career title at the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome, has set several historic milestones, according to Opta Ace and The Tennis Letter.
How Svitolina surpassed Williams
By claiming her third title in Rome, Svitolina rewrote tennis history. At 31 years and 235 days old, she became the oldest player to defeat three top-5 opponents within a single tournament.
The previous record belonged to legendary American Serena Williams, who achieved it in 2013 at the Miami tournament at the age of 31 years and 173 days.
In the quarterfinals, Svitolina defeated world No. 2 Elena Rybakina, in the semifinals, she knocked out world No. 3 Iga Świątek, and in the final, she overcame world No. 4 Coco Gauff in three sets.
Oldest players to defeat three top-5 opponents in a single tournament:
- Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) – 31 years 235 days (Rome 2026)
- Serena Williams (USA) – 31 years 173 days (Miami 2013)
- Mary Pierce (France) – 30 years 296 days (San Diego 2005)
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Legendary Ukrainian Svitolina rewrites tennis history (photo: x.com/OptaAce)
Elite circle of celebrity moms
In addition, the Rome victory cemented Svitolina's status as one of the most successful athletes to return to top-level sport after maternity leave.
Elina, who gave birth to her daughter Skaï in October 2022, became only the third tennis player in history to win a prestigious WTA 1000 tournament as a mother. Previously, this achievement had been accomplished only by Belgium's Kim Clijsters and Belarus's Victoria Azarenka.
Elina Svitolina poses with her 3rd Rome trophy.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 16, 2026
The 3rd player to come back as a mom and win a WTA 1000 event.
Clijsters.
Azarenka.
Svitolina.
Former world #3 before pregnancy.
3 years after returning as a mom, she’s back to world #7, lifting one of the biggest titles of… pic.twitter.com/gQ8f41mT8S
Inside champion's own words
"Yes, they were very tough matches. I think the only one I remember being even tougher was in Toronto when I won it. I also played against four top-10 players at that time. For me, of course, it gives me a lot of confidence heading into Roland Garros. I am very proud of the effort, of the intensity I was able to demonstrate to defeat those players," Svitolina told Punto de Break.
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