Sensation in Rome: Ukrainian tennis player delivers first career rout of a top-20 opponent
Photo: Oleksandra Oliynykova (Ukrainian Tennis Federation, FTU)
Ukraine’s fifth-ranked player, Oleksandra Oliynykova (WTA No. 68), has reached the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome, knocking out world No. 18 Clara Tauson. This victory marked a significant milestone for the Ukrainian player in several respect, according to the official website of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).
Rome. WTA 1000, Round of 32
Oleksandra Oliynykova (Ukraine) – Clara Tauson (Denmark) – 6:1, 3:1, retirement by Tauson
Historic dominance and opponent withdrawal
The second-round match began with complete control from Oliynykova. The Ukrainian player delivered a flawless performance in the first set, conceding only one game to her Danish opponent — 6:1. In the second set, Oleksandra maintained her pressure and led 3:1.
At that point, Clara Tauson, seeded 18th in the tournament, decided to withdraw from the match due to health issues. As a result, Oliynykova advanced to the next round via her opponent’s retirement.
Record-breaking achievement for Oliynykova
This match marked a real breakthrough for Oleksandra:
- She defeated a top-20 opponent for the first time in her career, setting a new personal benchmark for the highest-ranked victory.
- She also reached the third round of a WTA 1000 tournament for the first time.
- This is only her second appearance at this level of competition; her debut was recently in Madrid, where she exited in the first round.
What’s next
In the third round, the Ukrainian will face another major test. Her opponent will be Czech player Linda Nosková (WTA No. 13), the 13th seed in Rome.
The match is scheduled for Saturday, May 9.
Earlier, it was reported that Ukraine will field a record number of players at Roland Garros.
