In an exciting late-night battle, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elina Svitolina 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7) to go to the Italian Open last eight in Rome on Monday. Sabalenka saved three match points during the match.
After trailing 5-3 in the third set, Svitolina rallied to take three match points—two at 6-5 and one in the tiebreak, when Sabalenka used her nerve to win on her second match point.
Sabalenka expressed her feelings after saving three match points and said: “I gave it all today. I couldn’t give up. I couldn’t leave the court. I felt like if my body allows me to play even 15% of my best tennis, I’m going to stay there; I’m going to fight.”
She further said: “I just want to say, Roma, you’re in my heart forever. This kind of support was incredible. It was a great battle. Somehow, I managed my body and was able to win this match. I’m super happy with this win. Hopefully, I can recover for the next match. Hopefully, I’ll be ready to play another match here in Rome.”
Sabalenka d. Elina Svitolina 4-6 6-1 7-6(7) in Rome
Wow.
3 match points saved.
Incredible fight from both women, but Aryna hung tough.
She’s said this would be her dream tournament to win.
That dream is still alive & thriving.
✅2nd Rome QF
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 13, 2024
Aryna Sabalenka after beating Svitolina in Rome:
“I just want to say, Roma, you’re in my heart forever. This kind of support was incredible. It was a great battle. Somehow I managed my body and was able to win this match. I’m super happy with this win. Hopefully I can recover… pic.twitter.com/aXjMtVerV9
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 13, 2024
Sabalenka in Rome, ranking, and results in 2024
WWWWWLWWWW Ranked world no.2, Sabalenka achieved a compiled 23-6 win-loss record in 2024. Sabalenka is now having a run in Rome where she toppled the world no.109 Katie Volynets 4-6 6-3 6-2, the world no.33 Dayana Yastremska 6-4 6-2 and the world no.19 Elina Svitolina 4-6 6-1 7-67.
Aryna Sabalenka will come up against the world no.10 Jelena Ostapenko in the quarter. Their record is 2-0 for Sabalenka.
Aryna has won 1 title in 2024 at the Australian Open. Aryna was the runner-up in Brisbane (Brisbane International) and in Madrid (Mutua Madrid Open).
The Belarussian won 14 titles in her career: 10 on hard courts, 2 on clay courts and 2 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
Elina Svitolina in 2024
LWWLWLWWLW At the moment ranked no.19, the Ukrainian played her last match on the 13th of May when she lost to world no.2 Aryna Sabalenka 4-6 6-1 7-6(7) in the 4th round in Rome (draw).
During this season the Ukrainian has a composed 14-9 match record. Elina Svitolina’s best achievement of this season was getting to the final in Auckland.
Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina squared off 4 times. Their current head to head is 3-1 for Sabalenka. Before, the last time they played each other, Aryna Sabalenka won 4-6 6-1 7-6(7) in the 4th round in Rome (Internazionali BNL d’Italia) on the 13th of May 2024.
Here the video highlights.
