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By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, January 19, 2025

 
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Down 1-4 to Veronika Kudermetova, Elina Svitolina roared through 11 of the final 12 games sealing a 6-4, 6-1 sweep to reach the AO quarterfinals.

Photo credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty

Unleashing a massive uppercut, Elina Svitolina celebrated stylish Slam knockout.

Facing a 1-4 deficit vs. Veronika Kudermetova, Svitolina shifted to precision and plowed past her Russian nemesis.

More: AO Week One in Review

Svitolina charged 11 of the last 12 games rolling Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena today.

Tennis Express

The 30-year-old Svitolina advanced to her third career Australian Open quarterfinal, including her first since 2019.

“Well it was a long time ago, I feel like it was a lifetime ago, so many things happened,” Svitolina said in her on-court interview. “Having our daughter Skai [born October 15, 2022] and then surgery as well many things happened and I’m really pleased with the performance throughout this tournament and really enjoying this win today.”

It’s a special win because it sends Svitolina into her fourth Grand Slam quarterfinal in eight major appearances since her comeback from maternity leave.

The subtext to this major plot: Russian Kudermetova carried a 2-0 record vs. Ukrainian Svitolina onto court—both wins coming in tight three-setters—and the extra intensity at play as Ukrainian players do not participate in pre-match photo or post-match handshake with Russians or Belarusians due to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

A few times today, both women erupted with loud “Come ons!” in audible messages of intent and Svitolina sent a direct message writing “The Spirit of Ukraine” alongside a heart emoji on the camera lens after her first win over Kudermetova.

“I was just trying to put this fighting spirit,” said Svitolina, who fought off fourth-seeded Jasmine Paolini in round three. “It’s the only thing I can do when things are not going your way.

“Put your head down and get back to work. My team helped me to stay on track. I’m really happy I could come back to the match and win in straight sets.”

Svitolina will face either Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina or 19th-seeded American Madison Keys for a semifinal spot.

For the first time since the 2019 US Open both Svitolina and husband, 38-year-old Gael Monfils, who faces 21st-seeded American Ben Shelton on Margaret Court Arena both made the fourth round of the same Slam.

Now, Svitolina will shift to fan mode supporting her husband—and urged Rod Laver Arena fans to do the same.



“Hopefully, [I’ll watch him] court-side, but yeah I have a little bit of time to do my recovery and then will be all energy towards his match,” Svitolina said. “It’s gonna be an epic one I’m sure.

“Hopefully you guys can give him big support. Playing the way that he plays right now it’s special and I feel we are really witnessing something nice, yeah.”

Both women’s spouses are heavily-invested in their tennis—Kudermetova is coached by husband Sergey Demekhine.

In the early going, coach and husband had to be thrilled by the tennis he saw.

Kudermetova cracked a crosscourt forehand winner then hit successive deep returns, handcuffing Svitolina to score the first break for 2-1.

Thirteen minutes into the match, Kudermetova opened the court with the wide serve and whipped a forehand winner past her opponent consolidating for 3-1.

On a hot day the ball was lively and the court was playing fast. Kudermetova used it all to her advantage driving the ball deep, while Svitolina struggled to control her shots.

When Svitolina sailed a forehand, Kudermetova seized a 4-1 double-break lead.

Kudermetova was in cruise control when Svitolina seized the wheel and changed the direction of this match. Svitolina swept a crosscourt forehand pass to break back in the sixth game with a shout.

The 28th-seeded Ukrainian made a stand in the seventh game saving a break point and fist-pumping frequently to hold for 3-4.

Kudermetova cranked her fastest serve of the day erasing a break point in the eighth game. Finding her groove, Svitolina was controlling the ball hitting corner-to-corner to push Kudermetova into chase mode. Svitolina smacked a diagonal forehand breaking back to level after eight games.

After a near flawless start, Kudermetova missed some shots and framed a couple of others. Across the net, a confident Svitolina slid her second ace that helped her take her fourth consecutive game for a 5-4 lead.

During the changeover, Kudermetova called for the trainer to treat an apparent abdominal or oblique issue.



When play resumed, Svitolina read a drop shot, raced up to the ball and flicked a brilliant backhand angle for triple set point. On her second set point, Svitolina closed the 50-minute opener with her fifth consecutive game rattling her racquet toward her box in celebration.

A pumped-up Svitolina was 84-3 when winning the first set of a major with her lone losses to Top 5 opponents named Serena Williams, Simona Halep and Coco Gauff, reports Tennis Abstract.

Flying into a flashy forehand winner down the line, Kudermetova held to finally stop her slide holding for 1-all and screaming “come on!” down at the other end of the court to let Svitolina know she was still engaged in the battle.

Clad completely in crimson, Svitolina was striding around the court with confidence and striking with performance. Hitting some of her hardest returns of the match, Svitolina slammed an inside-out forehand that helped her break for 3-1.

Amping up the aggression of her drives—and the volume of her grunts—Svitolina opened the court with the crosscourt forehand then beat Kudermetova with her favorite inside-out forehand.

It was Svitolina’s sixth forehand winner and put her up a set and 4-1 after just 75 minutes of play.

The 30-year-old Svitolina was dissecting the Kudermetova serve and used the scoreboard pressure to crack out another break. After Kudermetova muffed a forehand to gift the break and a 5-1 lead, she slammed her Wilson racquet to the court. Across the net, Kudermetova was trotting around behind the baseline looking like a boxer ready to pounce on staggered opponent.



An eager Svitolina converted five of nine break points wrapping up a one hour and 23 minute win with command.

After multiple comebacks, Svitolina is right where she wants to be: Playing for a Slam semifinal and watching her husband rise to the same challenge.

“Hours and hours on the court off the court in the gym,” Svitolina said. “Also I feel like the mental part played a big part here to come back again and again after the pregnancy, after the surgery, starting from zero it’s not easy I can tell you.

“For me it's really amazing to dig deep in the Grand Slams and really thanks to my team who believes in me and who really supports me throughout.”

 

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