NEW DELHI: Elina Svitolina, a former French Open quarter-finalist, showcased her determination and resilience as she advanced to the fourth round of Roland Garros with a hard-fought victory over Russian player Anna Blinkova. Svitolina's performance resulted in a 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 triumph in Paris on Friday.
Svitolina, who recently made her return to the WTA Tour after the birth of her daughter, Skai, demonstrated her form by winning her first title in two years at the Strasbourg final. The former world number three had not reached the third round of a Grand Slam since the 2022 Australian Open.
Although Svitolina faced a potential defeat after losing the first set convincingly, she regrouped and fought back, ultimately leveling the match. She managed to break Blinkova's serve early in the deciding set.
Blinkova, who had previously upset the fifth seed Caroline Garcia in the previous round, put up a strong resistance and fought back from a 1-3 deficit. The match remained intense until 5-5, but Svitolina secured the win with an impressive backhand pass.
In the next round, Svitolina will face another Russian player, Daria Kasatkina, who reached the semi-finals of last year's French Open. Svitolina's victory sets up an exciting match between two talented players, as they compete for a spot in the quarter-finals.
Svitolina's successful campaign at Roland Garros demonstrates her determination to make her mark in the tournament once again.
With each passing round, the competition becomes fiercer, and Svitolina will undoubtedly continue to bring her fighting spirit and competitive edge to the court.
