Elina Svitolina Solves Muchova Puzzle To Reach First Grand Slam Semi-Final - UBITENNIS
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Elina Svitolina Solves Muchova Puzzle To Reach First Grand Slam Semi-Final

Elina Svitolina got the better of Karolina Muchova in two rollercoaster sets to progress to her first Grand Slam semi-final.
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3 years ago

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Elina Svitolina (@WeAreTennis on Twitter)

Elina Svitolina is through to her first Grand Slam semi-final after she beat Karolina Muchova 7-5 6-4 in the last eight at Wimbledon.

 

It is a very significant achievement for the Ukrainian. She has been ever-present in the world’s top ten since May 2017, but she has never previously made it past the quarter-final stage of a major.

“It feels amazing,” Svitolina said in her post-match interview. “I didn’t expect it would happen here, so it’s exciting and I’m looking forward to my semi-final already.”

She continued, “Muchova is a very tricky player. I think grass suits her. I had to really fight for every point and try to find my opportunities.”

Svitolina recovers after nightmare start

Svitolina, 24, had to win the hard way after an awful start. She was gifted the opening game by three unforced errors from Muchova, but she only won one point in the next four games as her Czech opponent broke her twice and stormed into a 4-1 lead in just 14 minutes.

At the changeover, the Ukrainian shook her head, as did her boyfriend Gael Monfils in the stands. Next to Monfils, Svitolina’s coach Andrew Bettles looked puzzled.

Happily, for their sake and hers, the World No.8 finally settled in game six. She served much better and hit three superb shots at the net to secure her first hold of the day.

Svitolina then put pressure on Muchova in game nine with her consistent groundstrokes, and the Czech buckled and allowed her to break back.

The World No.68 decided all six points in game ten. She moved the ball expertly around the court during two great grass-court points that showcased her potential. However, she also made four unforced errors, which allowed the Ukrainian to draw level at 5-5.

Svitolina went on the attack in the next game. She won one point at the net and then pinned Muchova behind the baseline to win another.

But the Czech was determined to make the Ukrainian work for the break. She saved four break points during what turned out to be the longest game of the match. There were also some excellent rallies for the crowd to enjoy. Ultimately, Muchova’s efforts were to no avail, as Svitolina forced an error from the youngster to move 6-5 ahead.

The World No.8 served out the set in style. She finished one point with a smart volley, another with a classy cross-court forehand winner and a third with a clever drop shot-volley combination.

Svitolina raises her game to see off Muchova challenge

Elina Svitolina (@Wimbledon on Twitter)

The second set was crazy. Muchova seized an early break with a forehand winner after Svitolina handed her a break point with a sloppy error.

The Ukrainian responded brilliantly. She floated a forehand beyond the Czech’s reach and unleashed a stunning forehand winner down the line to earn 0-30. She then profited from two unforced errors from Muchova to seal a break to love.

Svitolina saved two break points in game four and then broke the World No.68 twice more to move 5-2 ahead.

Still Muchova fought. She hit a superb backhand winner to force a break point and the Ukrainian made an error to hand her the break.

Svitolina ensured there was no repeat in game ten. She rushed the Czech whenever she could to earn a match point at 40-30. Then she hit a big serve out wide to clinch victory and jumped up and down in sheer delight.

The Ukrainian will now face Simona Halep in the last four. Although she leads their head to head 4-2, it will be tough to beat the Romanian in their first meeting on grass as she looks to be in top form.

“It’s a great opportunity for me,” Svitolina said. “I really love the atmosphere here and it will be exciting to play on the Centre Court for the first time.”

 

 

 

 

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Grand Slam

(VIDEO EXCLUSIVE) The Wimbledon Clash Between Djokovic And Sinner Could Have Been Better

It was an epic five-set clash but imagine how better the match would have been if both were playing well at the same time…
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14 hours ago

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05/07/2022

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Hall of Famer Steve Flink and Ubitennis’ Ubaldo Scanagatta analyse the dramatic events that unfolded on Tuesday at Wimbledon.

 

Top seed Novak Djokovic staged an epic comeback to oust Jannik Sinner in a match of two halves. Meanwhile, Cameron Norrie brought delight to the British fans.

On the other side of the draw, how will Rafael Nadal fair against the in-form Taylor Fritz? The Spaniard recently sidestepped a question about a potential new injury. 

As for the women’s draw, Ons Jabeur made history by becoming the first Arab player to reach a major quarter-final. She will next play 34-year-old mum-of-two Tatjana Maria who had never been beyond the third round of a major until now. 

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Grand Slam

The Wimbledon Naughty List: Which Players Have Been Fined And What For?

Ubitennis takes a look at who has been hit with a penalty and more importantly why.
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2 days ago

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04/07/2022

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Nick Kyrgios might be the player everybody’s talking about due to his behavior but few realize that he is one of 19 to be hit with a financial penalty during the first week of Wimbledon.

In fact, more than $75,000 worth of fines has already been issued during the first week of the championships. According to official data, more than three times as many men have committed an offense than women. Although interestingly it is only two female players who have been punished for receiving coaching and nobody in the men’s draw.

Australia’s Kyrgios leads the leaderboard for the biggest fine after what has been a controversial past few days. In his first round match, he argued with the umpire and spat in front of some people in the crowd who he said were ‘disrespecting him.’ Resulting in him being hit with a $10,000 penalty. He later said during his press conference that he was tired of being verbally abused by some fans watching him play.

 

Then on Saturday in a dramatic clash with Stefanos Tsitsipas he argued once again with officials, got a warning for swearing and at one stage called for his opponent to be defaulted for hitting a ball into the stands. 

“Why would I need to apologize? I’m getting fined for it. Because I got — I always get fined. I’m very keen to see what he will get after today.” Kyrgios said following his third round win. 

Kyrgios has been fined another $4000 for his antics and Tsitsipas has to pay $10,000 for his behavior. The relationship between the two took another dramatic turn after the match when the Greek accused his peer of bullying during an explosive press conference. 

After Kyrgios, America’s Reilly Opelka was docked $5000 for swearing. The value of the fine is an interesting one when three other players have also been fined for the same offense but they only have to pay $3000. The difference could be due to repeated swearing during the match.

The majority of the men’s fInes are for either unsportsmanlike conduct or audible obscenities. The only exception is Benoit Paire who was fined $2500 for equipment abuse.

As for the ladies’ draw, Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko received the biggest fine ($4500) for coaching. Former world No.1 Garbine Muguruza was another player to be published for her actions.

Here is a breakdown of the fines issued between Day 1 and Day 6 of the championships. 

WOMEN

  • Daria Saville AUS (round one) $4000 – EQUIPMENT ABUSE
  • Lesia Tsurenko UKR (round two) $4500 – COACHING
  • Garbine Mugurza ESP (round 2) $3500 – COACHING
  • Harriet Dart GBR (round 2) $4000 – EQUIPMENT ABUSE

MEN

  • Fernando verdasco ESP (round one) $3000 – AUDIBLE OBSCENITY
  • Adrian Mannarino FRA (round one) $3000 – UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
  • Stan Wawrinka SWI (round one) $3000 – UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
  • Yoshihito Nishioka JPA (round one) $3000 – UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
  • Nick Kyrgios AUS (round one) $10,000 – UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
  • Pedro Martinez ESP (round one) $3000 – UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
  • Diego Schwartzman ARG (round one) $3000 – AUDIBLE OBSCENITY
  • Lukas Klein SVK (round one) $3000 –  UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
  • Reilly Opelka USA (round two) $5000 – AUDIBLE OBSCENITY
  • Benoit Paire (round one) $2500 – EQUIPMENT ABUSE
  • Jiri Vesely CZE (round two) $3000 – UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
  • Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina ESP (round two) $3000 – AUDIBLE OBSCENITY
  • Denis Shapovalov CAN (round 2) £3000 – UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
  • Nick Kyrgios (round 3) $4000 – AUDIBLE OBSCENITY
  • Stefanos Tsitsipas (round 3) $10,000 – UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

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Grand Slam

(VIDEO) Day 7 at Wimbledon: Jannik Sinner Stuns Alcaraz, Djokovic Fights Back

Ubitennis found Ubaldo Scanagatta reflects on all the action that took place on Sunday with renowned commentator Steve Flink.
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3 days ago

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04/07/2022

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Jannik Sinner joins a small group of only six Italian men to have reached the last eight at SW19. The 20-year-old ousted the fierce Carlos Alcaraz in four sets. Another four-set triumph was Djokovic’s win over Dutch walk card Tim Van Rijthoven.

 

Hall of Famer Flink joins Ubitennis to give his view on the events that have taken place. 

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