Iga Swiatek, top seed, loses to Elina Svitolina in Wimbledon quarter-finals
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London: Poland's Iga Swiatek, the top seed at Wimbledon 2023, was ousted from the tournament after a hard-fought quarter-final match against Elina Svitolina.
Ukraine's Elina Svitolina defeated the world number one, Iga Swiatek, to secure a spot in the Wimbledon semi-finals. This remarkable feat comes just three months after Svitolina's return from maternity leave. Despite being a breakdown in both the first two sets against the reigning US Open and French Open champion, Svitolina emerged victorious with a final score of 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2.
Svitolina, currently ranked 76th in the world, showcased her resilience and determination throughout the match. She will now face Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic in the semi-finals, with the opportunity to secure a place in Saturday's championship match. Reflecting on her unexpected success, Svitolina expressed her disbelief, stating, "In my head, I don't know what's happening. It's an unbelievable moment. If you had told me before the tournament I would get to the semi-finals, I'd say you were crazy."
Playing on a wild card, Svitolina also commended her opponent, Iga Swiatek, for her support of Ukraine amidst the recent Russian invasion of the country. Swiatek, known for her charitable efforts, organised a benefit exhibition match last year to raise funds for humanitarian causes in Ukraine, with Svitolina acting as the chair umpire while heavily pregnant. Svitolina acknowledged Swiatek's contributions and described her as a "great champion and an unbelievable person," adding, "It's not easy to play against someone with whom you share great memories."
The match itself saw a series of intense exchanges and momentum swings. Swiatek initially broke Svitolina's serve in the opening game, but Svitolina quickly fought back to level the score. Swiatek secured another break and maintained a 4-2 lead. However, she faltered when serving for the set, allowing Svitolina to level at 5-5. Eventually, Svitolina capitalised on Swiatek's struggles and clinched the set.
The match experienced a brief pause as rain prompted the closure of the Centre Court roof. Swiatek, who had conceded four consecutive games, took advantage of the break. The second set witnessed Swiatek mounting a comeback with a break of serve, but Svitolina swiftly responded, leading to a dramatic tiebreaker. Swiatek demonstrated her resilience by rallying from a 1/4 deficit to force a decider.
In the final set, Svitolina displayed remarkable focus and determination, swiftly securing a double break and establishing a commanding 5-1 lead. The match concluded with Svitolina claiming victory as Swiatek netted a return, bringing an end to the Pole's Wimbledon journey. Swiatek's performance was affected by 41 unforced errors.
Fans are now eagerly waiting for Svitolina and Vondrousova to face off in the semi-finals.