Elina Svitolina is into the final at the WTA Finals after outsmarting Kiki Bertens 7-5 6-7(5) 6-4 in a 2 hour and 42 minute epic.
The Ukrainian remained undefeated this week after recording her fourth win with a 2 hour and 42 minute epic over a stubborn Kiki Bertens.
The Dutchwoman had many opportunities to break back in the final game but couldn’t capitalise as Svitolina converted her first match point.
As a result of her victory, Svitolina will now play either Sloane Stephens or Karolina Pliskova in Sunday’s final, with the sixth seed appearing in her first WTA Finals final.
The match was a very tense affair to start the match as they shared early breaks after six games, with the theme of contest becoming defence versus attack.
Both women were serving very well as neither player was creating many break points after the sixth game as Bertens started to introduce her powerful forehand into the match.
After wasting a set point in the tenth game, Svitolina eventually capitalised breaking to 15 in the 12th game to seal the first set as she looked determined to reach the biggest final of her career.
The second set saw Bertens more in control as the Ukrainian had a slight dip in form after winning that first set. A break in the first set was the perfect start for the eighth seed as she looked to turn the match on its head.
Another successful play for Bertens was the drop-shot which worked to perfection despite Svitolina’s fantastic movement.
However her nerves started to tell when serving for the match as three set points came and went, as a result Svitolina took her opportunity and sensed the moment as she broke back for 5-5.
The second set went to a topsy-turvy tiebreak with both women looking nervous and snatching the momentum from each other. In the end though, it was Bertens who pounced on a poor second serve from the Ukrainian to force a deciding set.
This match was all about physicality as this match was a contender for the longest match this week, with maximum effort being put in.
The deciding set started with three breaks of serve, with Svitolina bouncing back from being broken back in an eight deuce game.
After the Ukrainian had the edge both women served convincingly and with power as Svitolina missed her chance to seal the match on Bertens’ serve.
As the tenth game approached, Svitolina’s tactic was to stay patient and hope the errors would come from the Dutchwoman and they did. Over 60 unforced errors in the match from Bertens and some fatigued forehands would be her downfall.
In the end some insane defence saw Svitolina convert her first match and seal an epic victory in Singapore to secure the biggest final of her career.
.@ElinaSvitolina outlasts Bertens, 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-4!
Moves into @WTAFinalsSG championship match! pic.twitter.com/DrfIg12rwi
— wta (@WTA) October 27, 2018
After the match Svitolina was delighted with her victory and is looking forward to tomorrow’s final, “It feels amazing, it was such a tough battle today,” the Ukrainian said. “It’s the last match of the season and I’m going to give my best and leave everything on the court.”
The Ukrainian will now play tomorrow’s final against Sloane Stephens or Karolina Pliskova.
