Elina Svitolina has gone from wildcard to brink of the final, but the fairytale comeback is bigger than Wimbledon

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After nearly three hours of understanding her role and executing a game plan calculated to perfection, Elena Svitolina was suddenly at a loss to explain what she had achieved. In a stunning spectacle for world No. 1 Iga Swiatek to reach the semi-finals of Wimbledon, the Ukrainian wildcard, who returned to tennis just three months ago after becoming a mother, continues her fairytale comeback in a story that has become bigger than the tournament. can get bigger.

There will be no overshadowing of this. After knocking out Victoria Azarenka in the previous round, and sealing a win for Ukraine over Belarus in a thrilling three-set match that was then dominated by the Wimbledon crowd who booed Azarenka off the court, Svitolina produced a stronger performance against Switek. It’s a seismic shock, coming from a wildcard who has nothing to lose and who no longer considers tennis the most important thing in her life.

But perhaps this is the explanation behind Svitolina’s impressive career. The 28-year-old is a former world number three who reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2019 but was often unable to produce her best form at major tournaments earlier in her career. Now, just months after giving birth to her daughter Skye, Svitolina is performing better than ever as she takes on something bigger than herself. It represents a country at war and brings hope to a nation torn apart by Russian invasion.

At Wimbledon, the returning attendance of players from Russia and Belarus and the hype they bring is a constant reminder of what Svitolina is fighting for. But the Ukrainian understands and has changed because of the responsibility and opportunity that tennis has given her. After giving birth, she returned to the court and radically changed her playing style. With no time to lose, she suddenly became an aggressive player and developed a huge forehand. It was a reaction to how her life had changed and how the world had changed too.

Svitolina after winning a match point against Swiatek

(GT)

“I think the war made me stronger,” Svitolina said. “Mentally, I don’t take difficult situations as a disaster. There are worse things in life. I also think, because I’m just starting to play again, I have different pressures. Of course I want to win. I have this drive, like a huge drive, to get back on top. But I think Having a child and the war made me a different person. I look at things a little bit differently.”

There is no doubt who is the favorite among the Wimbledon fans right now. Svitolina’s run to the quarter-finals of the French Open last month captured the imagination. At Roland Garros, with her husband Gael Monfils watching, she was drawn in and celebrated by the French public as a home player. The same thing is happening now at the All England Club. in the central court. Svitolina sprinted over the finish line. The support she received was solid and Swiatek malfunctioned, resulting in the most rambunctious performance from the 22-year-old.

Back in Ukraine, Svitolina’s run at Wimbledon is headline news. The country stops to watch a play, kids huddle around phones, fetching some light in the dark. “I know a lot of people in Ukraine are watching,” Svitolina said. “I’m glad I can bring a little happiness into their lives.” She was inspired by the opportunity to give Ukrainians a moment of celebration in difficult times. “I think she played with more freedom and more courage,” said Swiatek. “I told her on the net that I hope she wins this tournament.”

Svitolina’s reinvented game has similarities to Swiatek’s, which is characterized by fluid footwork and early forehands that hit as hard as possible across the court. But there were moments early on where it felt like a mismatch and when Swiatek got off to a great start it seemed like a step too far for Svitolina on her comeback. Then the crowd responded, wanting Svitolina to dig deeper into every point and basic rally. Gradually, it led to the world’s most improbable implosion No. 1.

After a break in the opening set, Svitolina identified Swiatek’s second serve as a particularly weak point. When the accuracy of Swiatek’s first serve slipped, Svitolina jumped in returns while displaying great power and willing defense on the baseline, extending points while taking time off Swiatek’s explosive weapon.

Svitolina has not reached a Grand Slam final

(GT)

He inflicted a series of misses off Swiatek’s bat, with the match turning spectacularly. From Swiatek who led 0-30 on the Ukrainian’s serve at 3-5, Svitolina won 16 of the next 18 points to win the set. The world number one ended up winning just one point out of 12 on her second serve in the first set. Swiatek was rushing, sluggish, and unable to keep the ball in play. Svitolina raised her fist and stood away.

An upset loomed, but Swiatek responded to turn the match into a thriller. As the rains approached, the roof closed and the Pole let loose after venting to her mental coach, Daria Abramović, during the makeover. Heading down inside a book, Swiatek sat down before rediscovering her backhand to force a second set tiebreak as both players found their best form for the first time in the match.

Swiatek asked Svitolina to win Wimbledon at the net

(GT)

In the tiebreaker Svitolina jumped out to a 4-1 lead but Swiatek took a gritty, all-or-nothing approach to best the match-winners, building deep, accurate returns to fire an unstoppable forehand into the corner and then an exceptional backhand volley to reach the set point. Svitolina’s backhand drifted over the baseline and there was a stunned silence as the challenge confirmed it had been long.

With Swiatek losing her head in the first set and the two players battling it out in the second, the third set was all about Svitolina and the level she found. Svitolina handled Swiatek admirably in the team decider, and raised her game to unlock impressive dominance on both her serve and the return: she won 15 of her first 18 serve points while Swiatek broke twice with strong, sustained returns.

When Swiatek returned home on her third match point, Svitolina fell to her knees. Swiatek, who wore a blue and yellow ribbon on her hat and was a big fan of the Ukrainian players, met her on the net and told her to go ahead and win the championship.

A title that could have been beyond Svitolina’s wildest imaginations is now two matches away and she will play Unbeatable opponent and world No. 42 Markita Vondrousova in the semi-finals. With second seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus remaining in the other half of the draw, this Wimbledon comeback story could get even more exciting.

Djokovic passes Rublev test to equal Federer’s semi-final record

Novak Djokovic continued his defense at Wimbledon as he overcame Andrey Rublev’s challenge to reach the semi-finals, tying Roger Federer’s record in the process. Djokovic responded brilliantly to losing the first set to seventh seed Rublev, as the defending champion cruised to a thrilling 4-6 6-1 6-4 6-4 victory. In doing so, the No. 2 seed reached the semi-finals of the Grand Slam of his career, moving him into a record high that Federer had ever achieved.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates defeating Andrei Rublev in the singles quarter-finals on Tuesday

(GT)

Djokovic is trying to equal another Federer record by winning his eighth Wimbledon title this week, and he will now face a Final Four rematch with Yannick Siner, who led the Serb by two sets in last year’s quarter-finals 23 times ago. The Grand Slam winner has made a stunning comeback. Eighth seed Sinner reached his first career semi-final with a 6-4 3-6 6-2 6-2 victory over Roman Svilulin. The 21-year-old is the youngest player to reach a Wimbledon semi-final since 2007, a record that will be shattered on Wednesday when Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rohn meet for a place in the semi-finals on the other side of the draw.

Elsewhere, Marketa Vondrousova pulled off a stunning victory over world number four Jessica Pegula to set up her semi-final match against Elina Svitolina. Vondrousova was a break down in the deciding set before play was suspended to allow the first court roof to close, but she came away with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory. The 2019 French Open finalist, who is enjoying her best at the All England Club, revealed afterwards that a phone call and impromptu chat with her husband during the layover helped her turn the game around.

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