Ukrainian tennis star Svitolina reaches third round of Cincinnati WTA 1000 with stunning comeback
Elina Svitolina (photo: Getty Images)
Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina defeated Czech player Tereza Valentova in the second round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati. The Ukrainian lost the first set but managed to turn the match around and secure a comeback victory in three sets.
Svitolina vs. Valentova: how the match ended
Svitolina, the No. 8 seed at the tournament, made a poor start against 19-year-old Valentova. The Czech player immediately took control and comfortably won the first set 6-3.
In the second set, the Ukrainian stepped up her game and imposed her style of play on her opponent. Svitolina leveled the match by winning the set 7-6 in a tiebreak, 7-5.
The decisive set also went to the Ukrainian. Svitolina gave Valentova no chance to get back into the match and wrapped up the third set with a convincing 6-0 score.
As a result, Elina Svitolina defeated Tereza Valentova 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-0. The match lasted 2 hours and 22 minutes.
What’s next for Svitolina
This was Svitolina’s first-ever meeting with Valentova. The Czech player became the Ukrainian’s opponent after defeating American Mary Stoiana in the first round, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4).
In the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati, Svitolina will face the winner of the match between Coco Gauff and “neutral” player Liudmila Samsonova.
Marta Kostyuk also advanced to the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament: she defeated her American opponent after also coming back from a set down during the match.
