Archive of posts tagged Elina Svitolina

Gauff Kick-Starts Serve, Wins Cincinnati Opener

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By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, August 10, 2025
Photo credit: Internazionali BNL d’Italia Facebook

Coco Gauff kick-started her Cincinnati return gearing up her serve to post a revenge win.

The reigning Roland Garros rolled through 16 of her last 19 service points stopping Wang Xinyu 6-3, 6-2 to roll into the Cincinnati Open third round.

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“It feels great to be back in Cincinnati; obviously two years ago I won,” Gauff said. “And set me up for a great two weeks in New York. So it means a lot to me, this tournament, and I was very happy just to see the site and the improvements and we’re back here in Cincy.”

The second seeded Gauff avenged a 6-3, 6-3 loss to Wang she suffered on the grass of Berlin in June—and did it by resetting after early serve struggles.

Five games into the match, a frustrated Gauff gifted the break to Wang with three double faults, dropped her Head racquet to the court and kicked it toward her court-side seat.

That rare show of exasperation grounded Gauff, who found the range and rhythm on serve.

After spitting up eight double faults in her first three service games, Gauff did not hit a double fault the rest of the match, won 20 of her last 23 service points and snatched three of the last seven games at love.

“I think just taking my time and remembering the things you worked on in practice,” Gauff told Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj of finding her serve. “And just try not to fall into the same old patterns and it’s definitely difficult in the moment. It’s a work in progress.”

Exploiting Wang’s deep return position—and the world No. 37’s struggles to land forehand returns—Gauff beat Wang for the second time in three meetings.

The second-ranked American will try to sustain this Cincinnati revenge tour against hard-hitting Dayana Yastremska, who upset Gauff in the Wimbledon first round, 7-6(3), 6-1. 

The Gauff serve was in the spotlight on a steam Cincinnati afternoon today.

Gauff coughed up 43 double faults in three Montreal matches, including a career-high 23 doubles in a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(2) win over compatriot Danielle Collins.

The 2023 Cincinnati champion was haunted by double fault ghosts in the first game today. Gauff clanked a couple of double faults but fended off two break points holding to open. 

Double fault demons devoured Gauff as she served at 3-1. After her seventh double fault, Gauff slammed a racquet to the court. Double fault No. 8 ended the game and ignited an irate Gauff into that rare racquet slam and kick of frustration.

Venting her angst seemed to settle Gauff who broke right back for 4-2.

Wang stamped her first hold of the match at love to close the gap to 3-5. 

Serving for the set, Gauff exploited the Chinese player’s forehand return drawing successive errors off that wing then spinning a clean crosscourt forehand snatching a one-set lead after 41 minutes.

It’s a testament to Gauff’s mental strength—and the rest of her game—that she overcome eight double faults, two full games worth of doubles, yet still only permitted three games winning the set.

The Delray Beach-born Gauff trains in the heat and humidity of South Florida. Playing on a sweltering day with temperatures soaring to 90 degrees with 46 percent humidity, Gauff showed no signs of fatigue.

In fact, Gauff got stronger as the match progressed. She ran off 14 consecutive points on serve seizing a 4-2 second-set lead.

Playing with taping on her right calf, Wang inexplicably continued to target Gauff’s backhand wing and struggled to control her own wayward forehand. A Wang double fault and netted half-volley gave Gauff a love break for 5-2. 

The second seed drew a series of errors closing in 70 minutes.

Earlier, Rome champion Jasmine Paolini overcame late-set nerves and a tough Maria Sakkari 7-6(2), 7-6(5).

Credit Sakkari for battling back from 1-5 down in the first set—and fighting off four set points with Paolini serving at 5-3—to force the first tiebreaker. 

Lifting her level in the breaker, Paolini drew five Sakkari errors to go up 6-2. On her fifth set point, the 2024 Wimbledon finalist fired a diagonal forehand for a one-set lead.

Paolini, who squandered a match point bowing to Elina Svitolina in the Roland Garros round of 16, was coming off a brutal Montreal loss where she failed to convert match point in a 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(6) loss to qualifier Aoi Ito, who bamboozled the Italian with slice forehands in the deciding tiebreaker.

Racing to a 6-0 lead in the second-set tiebreaker today, Paolini was in prime position for a match ending backhand volley only to bunt it in the tape. The ball dribbled back on her side then Sakkari firing winners and saving five match points to close to 5-6 in the breaker.

All that good work dissipated when Sakkari double faulted on the sixth match point and Paolini breathed a big sigh of relief.

“Yes, I’m sorry for her but I was like please make the double, I have to be honest because it was a really tough tiebreaker,” Paolini told Tennis Channel’s Steve Weissman afterward. “It was 6-0 and a volley over the net and I miss it in the net. I was trying to make the right choices, but I have to say she played well. 

“I was like come on Jasmine don’t worry you won six points in a row she won five points in a row it’s normal. But at the same time I was like come on please make a double fault.”

Karen Khachanov comments on dealing with angry bettors amid sad Elina Svitolina case

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Alexander Zverev

Karen Khachanov says every tennis player is pretty familiar with online abuse and admits it is not a pleasant feeling, but believes that staying smart and not engaging with such people is the best thing to do.

In case you missed it, Elina Svitolina was subjected to some pretty disgusting messages following her Montreal quarterfinal loss on Monday – her DM was full of various insults and some even mentioned her family and sent death threats.

On Tuesday, Khachanov was in action at the Canadian Masters as he defeated top seed Alexander Zverev 6-3 4-6 7-6 (4) to reach the final. In his presser, the 29-year-old Russian was asked whether he noticed Svitolina's post and if he has dealt with something similar.

"My whole career, I would say, I heard it (laughing), like any other tennis player, I guess any other sportsman, athlete, you know," the seven-time ATP champion said.

Khachanov: They want to provoke you and you sometimes want to respond… But don't do that

"Now anyone can write anything they want, from fake accounts or whatever, just to kind of, yeah, piss you off or whatever, just get inside your head. But this is what they are trying to do… But sometimes you want to respond. But at the same time this is what they are trying, they are provoking you. You know, to answer means, means that it matters to you, so you just have to try to get over it," the Russian explained.

In the same interview, Khachanov noted that his agents run his social media accounts and that he only uses social media when he wants to personally check something, and that he tries to avoid reading anything else as much as possible.

Meanwhile, Khachanov is due to play Ben Shelton in the Toronto Masters final. If the 2018 Paris champion wins, it will be his second Masters title.

Nick Kyrgios 'disgusted' by horrifying abuse targeted at Elina Svitolina

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Nick Kyrgios offered some empathy to Elina Svitolina after seeing the shocking abuse she received for only losing a tennis match. 

In the Montreal quarterfinal, Svitolina didn't enjoy a good day at the office and Naomi Osaka took full advantage of it to complete a 6-2 6-2 win.

After arriving in the hotel and checking her phone, Svitolina noticed that she was flooded by abusive and insulting messages of all sorts – she wasn't insulted only on a career level but the angry bettors also mentioned her marriage and family. As if that wasn't enough, the Ukrainian also received death threats.
 
Svitolina took several screenshots – she posted them – and then delivered a blunt message to her abusers: “To all the bettors: I'm a mom before I'm an athlete. The way you talk to women – to mothers – is SHAMEFUL. If your moms saw your messages, they'd be disgusted…”

Kyrgios reacts to Svitolina dealing with horrifying social media abuse

"Disgusting (sad emoji), the 2022 Wimbledon finalist wrote on X after noticing the Ukrainian's post.

A couple of years ago, Kyrgios decided to go public with his mental health story and revealed that there was a point in 2019 when he battled major depression, anxiety, and even had suicidal thoughts during that period. In one of his interviews around the time of his revelation, the Australian admitted that it wasn't easy to deal with constant social media abuse. 

“I deal with it all the time. People just think raising the finger, abusing someone or making racist comments is acceptable in this day and age and I just don’t think that’s acceptable at all," Kyrgios said at the time.

Unfortunately, social media abuse remains a major problem and that's why some players decided to ditch social media in recent years.

Emotional Tauson Tops Keys, Dedicates Win to Grandfather

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By Chris Oddo | Tuesday August 5, 2025

Clara Tauson was a woman on a mission on Tuesday in Montreal. Two days after notching her second Top-5 win of 2025 over Iga Swiatek, she reeled in her fourth Top-10 triumph of the season by defeating Australian Open champion Madison Keys, 6-1, 6-4.

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It was an emotional victory for the 22-year-old Dane, who told the crowd that she was dedicating the victory to her grandfather, who recently passed way.

“I’m still in shock,” she said, breaking into tears. “Two days ago my grandfather, unfortunately, passed away. I really wanted to win for him today.

“I was told the day after I beat Iga, yesterday, so I really wanted to come out and show my best tennis for him, and hopefully he’s watching.”

Broadcasting (NEC)

Tauson will face either Naomi Osaka or Elina Svitolina in the semifinals.

She was out of the gates fast against sixth-seeded Keys, converting two breaks of serve to claim the opening set in under 30 minutes. Tauson made a break in the first game of set two hold up, saving a break point while serving at 4-3 before closing the match out in one hour and 13 minutes.

Tauson saved all three break points she faced and won each of her nine service games to improve to 32-15 on the season. She reaches her seventh career WTA semifinal, all of which have come on hard courts.

With the win Tauson is up to a career-high No.15 in the live rankings.

Osaka Continues Torrid Tennis, Reaching First Semifinal in Canada

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By Chris Oddo | Tuesday August 5, 2025

New coach, new vibes?

Naomi Osaka is finding her best tennis in her first tournament with new coach Tomasz Wiktorowski. The four-time major champion defeated Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-2 on Tuesday night in Montreal, notching five consecutive wins for the first time since 2022, and setting a semifinal with 22-year-old Dane Clara Tauson.

It was a dominant performance from Osaka, who reached the last four in Canada for the first time in her career in her sixth career appearance in Canada.

“I think for me I’m just having a lot of fun playing and I’m really glad to be here,” said the 27-year-old former World No.1. “It’s been seven years.”

Osaka broke serve five times from seven opportunities, kept her error count far lower than Svitolina and won 83 percent of her first-serve points to improve to 21-11 on the season.

“I’m really happy,” she told reporters. I”m also really excited. I don’t know. It’s kind of interesting, because I told people this before, but like, obviously after Wimbledon, I was really disappointed. Then I just kind of let go of my expectations, and now we’re here. So I find it kind of ironic, but I’m happy about it.”

With her win Osaka rises to No.29 in the WTA live rankings, which means she will be seeded at the US Open.

Montreal: Naomi Osaka annihilates Elina Svitolina for first WTA 1000 SF since 2022

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Auckland

Naomi Osaka has been through to her first WTA 1000 semifinal since the 2022 Miami Open after annihilating No. 10 seed Elina Svitolina 6-2 6-2 in Montreal.

Through her opening three matches at the Canadian Open, Svitolina was purely dominant as she didn't drop a set. However, the Japanese four-time Grand Slam champion had a clear game plan and executed it to perfection.

In the first set, Osaka managed to three times break her rival. With two additional breaks in the second set, the former world No. 1 completed her routine straight-set win.

Once again, the Japanese's serve worked exceptionally – she faced break points only in the seventh game of the first set and suffered her lone break of the match in that game. 

For a place in the Montreal final, Osaka will battle against No. 16 seed Clara Tauson, who beat Madison Keys.

Osaka's reaction to beating Svitolina

In her presser, the current world No. 49 was asked how she managed to tame in-form Svitolina.

"I mean, I never really care about the stats of the person I'm playing. I know that everyone is really tough. I mean, I'm fortunate. I played her a couple of times before, and I know that she's one of the best fighters on tour, so I was just expecting a tough match," the Japanese said.

Now, Osaka is set for a second meeting versus Tauson. Earlier this year, the former world No. 1 won the first set of their Auckland final before retiring due to an injury. The 27-year-old was asked whether something stood out about the Dane's game from their first encounter.

"Honestly, I remember feeling like she was a little unconventional. I don't remember why exactly I felt that way, but I think she had a really interesting game. I did watch her play Keys a little bit, but I was, like, warming up and stuff. I'll be curious to see what happens," Osaka recalled.

Elina Svitolina reveals vile abuse, death threats she received after Montreal loss

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AI-based technologies

Elina Svitolina took to social media to share some absolutely disgusting and horrifying messages she received following her Montreal quarterfinal exit.

After not losing a single set through her opening three Montreal matches, the 10th-seeded Ukrainian didn't play her best against an inspired Naomi Osaka, who claimed a routine 6-2 6-2 win.

Shortly after the loss, Svitolina was flooded by negative and abusive messages – presumably from angry bettors. In a series of screenshots she took and posted on her Instagram Story, the Ukrainian revealed that the was insulted as a player – woman – her marriage to Gael Monfils was also mentioned – and she even received death threats.

Svitolina's message to the bettors: I'm a mom before I'm an athlete

The 30-year-old Ukrainian, who became a mother for the first time in late 2022, had a strong message for the social media abusers, telling them: “To all the bettors: I'm a mom before I'm an athlete. The way you talk to women – to mothers – is SHAMEFUL. If your moms saw your messages, they'd be disgusted…”

Unfortunately, social media abuse isn't anything new in the tennis world. Over the last several years, there have been numerous cases of a player losing the match and then seeing their DM flooded with vile messages. 

Certain tournaments have started using AI-based technologies to filter out negative and abusive messages. But that's still in its early stages and players are still widely exposed to social media abuse. 

Opportunity Knocks For These Five Players in Canada

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By Chris Oddo | Monday August 4, 2025

Among the handful of household names still very much in the mix ahead of quarterfinal action at the 1000-level events in Canada this week, there are a few newbies who could just be ready to make a big splash.

And a four-time major champion that has not seen much success at the biggest events of late.

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Let’s have a look at some of the players that could produce breakout results over the next three days in Canada.

Alex Michelsen

The 20-year-old American has reached his maiden Masters quarterfinals, and that makes three American men in the quarters of a Masters event for the first time since 2004 Indian Wells: Michelsen, Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton.

Today Michelsen will face Karen Khachanov in Toronto as he bids to become the youngest American man to reach the semifinals at a Masters event since Andy Roddick won the 2003 title. Michelsen, who will rise to No.28 in the live rankings if he wins, is bidding to become the first player born in 2004 to reach a Masters semifinal.

Clara Tauson

The 22-year-old Dane has already defeated two Top-5 players in 2024. She has now reached her second WTA 1000 quarterfinal and is already up to a new career-high ranking of 17 in the live rankings. She’ll face Madison Keys on Tuesday.

Victoria Mboko

It’s all gravy for the youngest player remaining in the women’s draw – and the last Canadian standing in either event — in Montreal this week, as 18-year-old wild card Victoria Mboko faces Jessica Bouzas Maneiro for a spot in the semis on Monday night.

Mboko, making her main draw debut, defeated Coco Gauff to reach her maiden WTA 1000 quarterfinal. Same for Bouzas Maneiro, and both players are bidding to reach their first tour-level semifinal.

Ben Shelton

22-year-old American Ben Shelton has already reached the semifinals at a major, but he hasn’t gone there at a Masters event thus far. He’ll have a chance to achieve the feat on Tuesday when he meets Alex de Minaur in Toronto, in a first-time meeting.

Of the eight men remaining in the singles draw in Toronto, only the Americans – Michelsen and Shelton – have yet to reach a Masters final.

ben shelton citi open
ben shelton citi open

Naomi Osaka

Could it be the four-time Slam champion’s time to shine again in Montreal? Naomi Osaka, with new coach Tomasz Wiktorowski at the helm, will bid for her first 1000-level semifinal since 2022 in Miami.

The former No.1, who rifled past Anastasija Sevastova in 49 minutes on Sunday, will face former champion Elina Svitolina on Tuesday.

Only four of the remaining eight players left in the Montreal draw have previously won a title at the 1000 level: Madison Keys, Elena Rybakina, Osaka and Svitolina

Osaka: Three Reasons for Montreal Resurgence

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By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, August 4, 2025
Photo credit: Omnium Banque Nationale Facebook

Being fitter makes you smarter on court, Andre Agassi famously observed.

Naomi Osaka points to improved fitness as one of three main reasons for her Montreal resurgence.

Former world No. 1 Osaka crushed former US Open semifinalist Anastasija Sevastova 6-1, 6-0 in a 49-minute thrashing that was the shortest match of her accomplished career.

Anastasija Sevastova

It is Osaka’s fourth straight win equaling her longest winning streak of the season which came in Auckland in January. It sent Osaka into her first Canadian Open quarterfinal and vaulted her to No. 34 in the live rankings—as she moved within striking distance of a US Open wild card.

Osaka attributes her career-best Montreal to three primary reasons: she’s fitter on court, happier off court and believes her trial with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski is working well so far because of the Polish’s coaches direct, no-nonsense style.

“Honestly, I think for me what’s working well is I am very confident in my fitness,” Osaka said. “I’m really
comfortable just getting balls back now, and I really enjoy Tomasz. I don’t know if to say his name is ‘Thomas’ or ‘Tomasz.’ I’m so sorry.

“But I enjoy his coaching style. He’s very direct and to the point. For someone like me, who my thoughts scatter around often, it’s very helpful.”

At times this season, Osaka was getting beaten by deep balls in the corner and sometimes tried playing big strikes down the line rather that playing back a deep ball to give herself time to recover back to the center of the court.

In fact, as recently as her 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 comeback conquest of 13th-seeded Liudmila Samsonova in round two, Osaka was getting beaten repeatedly in crosscourt exchanges and sometimes taking one big step rather than the short, precise preparation steps to give herself ideal spacing between her body and the ball.

The 2023 Montreal finalist Samsonova held double match point at 6-4, 5-4, 40-15 when Osaka dug down and denied two match points sparking her stirring comeback.

In retrospect, it’s possible that comeback win could change the course of Osaka’s season if she sustains this winning streak. Saving those match points, Osaka started putting productive points together rather than resorting to try to end points prematurely with one big strike.

Similarly, Osaka said she’s now focusing on achieving “Mini goals” at tournaments as she tries to stack more wins together and pursue her ultimate goal of a Top 10 return and eventually competing for Slam titles again.

“It’s weird. I talked to my dad, and he said, like, Just being healthy and happy is a form of success,” Osaka said. “I agree with that, but I want more.

“I mean, definitely, of course I would want to win slams, of course I would want to be in the top 10, but I
think I need to pace myself and go for the mini goals, and they’ll eventually turn into the big goals. Yeah, I think being in the quarterfinals here is a step to hopefully getting to the semis and the finals, so I’ll try to treat it more like that.”

Osaka scored her 20th win of the season in Montreal which matches her total 2024 victory output. Now, she’ll try to sustain her roll facing 10th-seeded Elina Svitolina for a semifinal spot. The 27-year-old Osaka has won four of seven meetings vs. Svitolina, who will test the Japanese power players patience with her precision.

Another Match Point Miracle for Keys, Who Advances in Montreal

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Madison Keys is having the year of her life, and she’s overcoming hurdles at seemingly every tour stop. Today in Montreal, another shining example as the American saved a pair of match points to get past Karolina Muchova, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, to book a quarterfinal spot at the Omnium Banque Nationale. 

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“Definitely really happy to get that win,” Keys said. “She’s such a great player, and she’s always such a tough opponent to go against. To be able to, after losing the first set, get back into the match, even being match points down, to be able to figure it out is always a good day.” 

2016 finalist Keys has now won from match points down three times this season – against Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open, against Sofia Kenin at Roland-Garros, and now Montreal, where either Swiatek or Clara Tauson will be her next opponent. 

Muchova had a pair of match points with Keys serving at 4-5 in the third. Previously, Keys, who improved to 35-10 on the season with her win, dropped the opening set before hitting back to take the middle set without surrendering a break. 

In the third Muchova and Keys traded breaks, then the Czech saved three break points while serving at 2-2 to stay on serve. She then had the opportunities with Keys serving at 4-5, 30-40, and six points later at ad-out. 

Keys held her nerve and serve, then converted her third break point for 6-5. She converted her second match point to clinch the hard-earned win in two hours and 21 minutes. 

Anastasija Sevastova

Osaka Routs Sevastova 

Naomi Osaka powered past Anastasija Sevastova 6-1, 6-0 in the second round of four women’s singles round of 16 encounters on Saturday, the Japanese recording her 20th win of the season to match her entire 2024 total.

Osaka got the win in 48 minutes as 386-ranked Sevastova had very little left after winning three three-setters to reach the round of 16.

She will face either Amanda Anisimova or Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals.

Montreal: Naomi Osaka delivers perfect display for QF, destroys rival in 49 minutes

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Amanda Anisimova

Naomi Osaka has just delivered one of her best displays since starting her post-pregnancy comeback in 2024 as the former world No. 1 needed just 49 minutes to destroy Anastasija Sevastova 6-1 6-0 in the Montreal round-of-16.

Through the opening two games of the match, the two players were tied to one game apiece. From that moment on, there was only one player on the court – and it was the Japanese – who impressively took the next 11 games without basically giving any chance to the former world No. 11. 

For Osaka, this is her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal of the year. Also, this is the first time since Auckland that the four-time Grand Slam champion has managed to win four matches in a single tournament at the main level – note, the Japanese also had five consecutive wins in May at the WTA 125 (Challenger) tournament in Saint-Malo. 

Now, the 27-year-old awaits the winner of the match between No. 5 seed Amanda Anisimova and Elina Svitolina.

Osaka is looking rejuvenated in Montreal

After losing in the Washington round-of-16, Osaka made a big move and decided to say goodbye to coach Patrick Mouratoglou. But she is not alone in Montreal after quickly agreeing on a collaboration with Iga Swiatek's former long-time coach Tomasz Wiktorowski. So far, their debut has been nothing short of outstanding.

“I think with personality, I was a little nervous because he seems a little stern but he’s actually kind of funny. He’ll randomly say a joke that I wasn’t expecting or something like that. I like him a lot. I know that we’ve only played two matches, but he seems very decisive with what he wants. And I think that that makes it very clear for me," Osaka said of Wiktorowski a few days ago.

Osaka won't have an easy job in the Montreal quarterfinal whoever she faces, but she is certainly not lacking any confidence at the moment.

Anisimova Annihilates Raducanu in Dominant Montreal Performance

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By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 1, 2025
Photo credit: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty

The rematch was a mismatch.

Crackling highly charged drives, Amanda Anisimova jolted Emma Raducanu backward like a woman stricken by surges of static electricity.

In a brilliant performance of power tennis, Anisimova routed Raducanu 6-1, 6-2 in a 64-minute thrashing to roll into the Montreal round of 16.

Amanda Anisimova

It was Anisimova’s first win over Raducanu in three meetings as she avenged a 6-1, 6-3 loss to the talented Briton in front of home fans in Miami in March.

In that match, Anisimova was bothered by a left wrist issue.

Tonight, Anisimova strong-armed Raducanu with disarming drives from the first point.

The Wimbledon finalist whipped deep strikes persistently pushing Raducanu corner to corner. Anisimova broke twice in a row charging out to a 4-1 lead.

Holding for the first time 28 minutes into the match, Raducanu made a push going up love-30 in the American’s ensuing service game. Anisimova shoved her right back into place, blistering a backhand winner down the line that lashing an ace down the T as part of a four-point run to hold for 5-2. 

Even when Raducanu hit her spot on serve, Anisimova was unleashing whiplash returns near the lines. A biting backhand return down the line gave the American a second set point. 

Anisimova turned her hips and shoulders into a jarring return sealing a one-set lead with her third break of the set. Anisimova hit 12 winners—nine more than Raducanu—and played much of the 40-minute opener off her front foot. 

That opening set was just a prelude to the powerful combinations Anisimova administered in the secodn set.

The fifth-seeded Anisimova won eight straight points to ignite a second-set surge that saw her snatch a 5-0 lead.

It wasn’t that Raducanu even played poorly, an oppressive Anisimova barely gave the Briton an opportunity to play at all. Raducanu held at 30 to deny a second-set bagel.

On a day when defending champion Jessica Pegula was upset by former US Open semifinalist Anastasija Sevastova, the 2024 finalist Anisimova was in cruise control.

Anisimova served out a commanding 64-minute conquest at love firing one final forehand winner crosscourt. The pair embraced at net afterward with both women sharing a smile over Anisimova’s brilliance.

Doha champion Anisimova will face Elina Svitolina for a quarterfinal spot.

The 10th-seeded Svitolina swept Washington, DC finalist Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-1 breaking five times in a 55-minute dissection.

Montreal: Emma Raducanu gets dismantled in 3R, while Iga Swiatek easily wins

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Amanda Anisimova

Emma Raducanu is out of the WTA 1000 tournament in Montreal after being crushed 2-6 1-6 by Amanda Anisimova, while Iga Swiatek extended her winning streak to nine matches after making light work of Eva Lys 6-2 6-2.

Anisimova, who was beaten by Raducanu earlier this year at the Australian Open and Miami, came out determined to make a statement early on and she did so by breaking the Briton three times in the opening set. The second set was a similar story as the fifth-seeded American took the opening five games before serving out for the win in the seventh game.

In the Swiatek and Lys match, there wasn't any drama as the six-time Grand Slam champion got the job done routinely by claiming two breaks in each set. It was a clinical performance from the Polish tennis star, who faced only one break and saved it.

In the Montreal round-of-16, Anisimova will battle against Elina Svitolina, who beat Anna Kalinskaya. On the other side, Swiatek will fight against Clara Tauson – the same rival she beat en route to winning Wimbledon.

Swiatek's reaction to beating Lys

Going into their Montreal meeting, Swiatek and Lys had met twice and the Pole won both of those meetings – 6-1 6-1 in 2022 Stuttgart, 6-0 6-1 at this year's Australian Open. While the Pole gave no chance to Lys again, she insisted that it wasn't really an easy match.

“It’s always fun here. It was a solid match so I’m happy to have a chance to play another one here. The match was different from how we played each other last time. I just focused on myself and knew what my plan was, but Eva played some great down-the-lines and sometimes was really able to use her wrist and play some fast balls. It wasn’t easy, but I’m happy I just did my job," Swiatek said after her win.

Swiatek: Comeback Win Pressure Proving Ground

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“I needed that kind of win to feel these feelings that I’m able to win under pressure, and even if it’s not going the right way, still turn the match around,” Iga Swiatek said.Chrissie Evert

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, June 1, 2025
Photo credit: Antoine Couvercelle-ROLEX

Dropping eight of nine games would leave most feeling terror tremors on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Facing a 1-6, 0-2 deficit to Elena Rybakina today, Iga Swiatek skipped shivers adopting simple mind set: Fight for every ball.

Tennis Express

Reigning Roland Garros champion Swiatek pulled off a spirited comeback edging Rybakina 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 to advance to the Roland Garros quarterfinals for the sixth straight year.

Swiatek said this comeback is confirmation she can perform under pressure after a subpar season.

“It’s a great confirmation for me that I can handle the pressure and everything, but honestly, I wasn’t expecting to have an easy score against Elena,” Swiatek said. “I also had an easy score against her, but losing, you know, because she’s a great player. So for sure that wasn’t something that I even considered today.

“Yeah, no matter what the score is, I’m going to just try to play the best tennis possible any minute. It doesn’t really matter, honestly, but for sure, as I said, it’s great to overcome some challenges during the match.”

It is Swiatek’s 25th straight Roland Garros win, equaling Hall of Famer Monica Seles for second-longest Paris Open Era women’s win streak behind Chrissie Evert (29).

Swiatek said spacing out helped her turn the match around.

Backing up further behind the baseline gave Swiatek more time to return Rybakina’s second serve as the match progressed.

Rybakina won just nine of 21 second-serve points and did not hit an ace in the final set.

“[Coach] Wim, it was his plan to kind of convince me sometimes to try it out, but I wasn’t sure if that’s my thing,” Swiatek said. “Because I remember a few years back, when I started being more aggressive, I started winning more.

“I think girls are serving faster now, and everybody is developing.

“There are some limits to what you can react to, you know. I think the coaching actually really helped me today, because I wouldn’t come up with this myself. Even though I practice it a little bit, it’s still like a weird thing for me to do.

“But for sure it helped. Yeah, as I said, it gave me more time to just play back some balls.”

Next up for Swiatek is a quarterfinal clash vs. 30-year-old Ukrainian veteran Elina Svitolina who saved three match points upsetting 2024 finalist Jasmine Paolini.

“It means a lot. I think I needed that kind of win to like feel these feelings that I’m able to win under pressure, and even if it’s not going the right way, you know, still turn the match around to win it,” Swiatek said. “For sure it’s a great confirmation for me. Yeah, I for sure wanted to have a match like that.

“Obviously, it’s great to also have full control over the match, but against great players, it’s not always going to be possible. I’m happy that I fought, and I also problem-solved on court.”