Elina Svitolina, the top seed at the WTA 250 ASB Classic in Auckland, displayed remarkable determination to outlast Great Britain’s Sonay Kartal on Friday, triumphing with a score of 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-6(5) to secure her spot in the semi-finals.
The Ukrainian, currently ranked World No. 13, found herself under pressure throughout the high-stakes match against the British No. 3, who had an opportunity to assert control in the third set when leading 5-3. However, Svitolina’s tenacity shone through as she executed a brilliant defensive strategy, ultimately winning on her second match point.
Post-match, Svitolina acknowledged the intensity of her battle with Kartal, saying, “There’s still a lot of adrenaline after that last set and the tiebreaker, which is always very difficult and challenging. All credit goes to Sonay; she played incredible tennis today, and she truly deserved to win.”
The match began with Svitolina breaking Kartal’s serve in the very first game, but she soon relinquished her advantage, losing her own serve in the fourth game. Despite trailing 2-4 in the opening set, Svitolina rallied to take the set 6-4.
The second set was fiercely contested, culminating in a tiebreak where Kartal emerged victorious, forcing a decisive third set. Early on in the final set, it was Kartal’s turn to break Svitolina’s serve, placing her in a commanding position at 4-2. Yet, Svitolina refused to falter, breaking back and managing to level the score, ultimately bringing the match to yet another tiebreak. Despite Kartal’s valiant effort, Svitolina clinched the match after 2 hours and 36 minutes, marking a significant comeback.
In the semi-finals, Svitolina will face Iva Jovic, the talented 18-year-old American and tournament’s third seed, who earned her place by defeating Sofia Costoulas with a scoreline of 6-2, 7-6(6). The quarter-final match was dominated early on by Jovic, who secured a quick lead, although Costoulas showed signs of resilience, particularly with a stunning lob shot that showcased her skill.
Meanwhile, Alexandra Eala, the fourth seed from the Philippines, also made headlines by overcoming Poland’s Magda Linette, the fifth seed, in straight sets, winning 6-3, 6-2. In her quest for a title, Eala will now meet Wang Xinyu, the seventh seed from China, who advanced after British player Fran Jones withdrew due to a right thigh injury while trailing 6-4, 4-3.
Eala, ranked 53rd in the world, attributed her performance against Linette to a level of improvement she is noticing in her game. “I’ve had difficulties playing against her before, so I’m happy that I’m seeing my level increase,” Eala expressed post-match.
The semi-final matchup between Eala and Wang promises to be an exciting encounter, with both players in search of their first WTA singles title. Eala, having already achieved notable feats in her career, including her first WTA 125 title last year, looks to continue her ascent. Conversely, Wang, 24, who reached the finals in Berlin last summer, seeks to turn the tide in her favor, aiming to break an 0-8 streak in previous tour-level semi-finals.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on these talented athletes as they aim for victory at the ASB Classic.
