Elina Svitolina reaches Washington WTA q-finals with another win over Daria Kasatkina
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Elina Svitolina of Ukraine hitting a backhand during her match against Daria Kasatkina of Russia at the DC Open in Washington.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Follow topic:
WASHINGTON – Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina continued her dominance of Daria Kasatkina, taking her career record over the Russian to 8-0 with a 6-2, 6-2 victory on Wednesday in the WTA hard-court tournament in Washington.
Unseeded Svitolina’s second win over her fifth-seeded rival this season saw her into the quarter-finals, where she will face either top-seeded American Jessica Pegula or Peyton Stearns.
“I just try to fight each time I play Dasha,” said the 28-year-old, who also beat Kasatkina in straight sets in the French Open fourth round in June.
“She’s a tough opponent to face, and each time I try to play just one extra ball over the net, to take and dictate the game. I’m really happy I won the match today.”
Svitolina, playing her eighth tournament since returning from maternity leave, belted 29 groundstroke winners, including 22 on her forehand.
She saved all 10 break-points she faced, nine of them coming in just two games – her gritty hold to claim the opening set and a marathon game for a 5-1 lead in the second.
When the match ended, Svitolina stuck to her policy of declining to shake her Russian opponent’s hand. At Roland Garros, however, she commended Kasatkina for speaking out against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, former US Open champion Emma Raducanu returned to the practice court on Wednesday for the first time since she underwent wrist and ankle surgery in May. In a video posted on Instagram, the 20-year-old Briton could be seen training with compatriot Kyle Edmund.
“August 2nd, the fun part. First time back on court,” she wrote.
Since her fairy-tale run to win the US Open title as an 18-year-old qualifier in 2021, Raducanu has faced challenges with her form and fitness.
She missed the French Open and Wimbledon tournaments this season while she recovered from surgery and is unlikely to be fit for the US Open, which begins on Aug 28.
Raducanu was beaten in straight sets by American Coco Gauff in the second round of the Australian Open in January and has not played a tournament since April.
In the men’s draw in Washington, three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray showed he is still relishing competition at the elite level after battling to victory in his first match since his second-round exit at Wimbledon.
The 36-year-old British former world No. 1 recovered from 2-5 down in the opening set tiebreak to defeat American Brandon Nakashima 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 on Wednesday.
He will take on home favourite and top seed Taylor Fritz in the third round. AFP, REUTERS
