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By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday July 27, 2021

 
Elina Svitolina

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine is the highest seed remaining in the women's singles draw at the Olympics.

Photo Source: Getty

Ukraine's Elina Svitolina is closing in on Olympic glory in Tokyo.

The 26-year-old World No.6 eased past Italy’s Camila Giorgi on a blustery day at the Olympics, 6-4, 6-4, to book a semifinal with Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic.

Tennis Express

Vondrousova, who upset No.2 seed Naomi Osaka 6-1 6-4 on Tuesday in Tokyo, advanced when Paula Badosa retired due to illness.

Svitolina was opportunistic early in both sets, taking a 4-0 lead in the opening set and resisting a strong push from the 29-year-old Italian, who is ranked 61. In the second set Svitolina led 4-1 and hung on after Giorgi reclaimed a break.


The Ukrainian has reached the last four at the Olympics for the first time. In 2016 at Rio she defeated Serena Williams for her first ever win over a reigning world No.1 (she now has six) and reached the quarterfinals.

At the Tokyo Games, Gold could be Svitolina’s color. As the highest-ranked player left in the draw, the podium is certainly within reach. She has won three of four meetings against Vondrousova, the World No.50, but lost their last meeting, in 2020 at Rome.

 

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