When the US Open started, there was some expectation that the Williams sisters – Serena and Venus – could roll back the years and take a Grand Slam title home once again. For Venus, though, the dream is over; she’s been knocked out by No.5 seed Elina Svitolina. A fantastic second round match-up seen her win 6-4, 6-4 in a 1h 51m match-up.
Speaking after the game to the press, Svitolina said: “In the end it was a very intense and very solid match,
“When I face her, it’s always a challenge because she always fights. You have to earn almost every point. You have to step up your game. If you give her short ball she always takes it on. So you have to be aware. And playing every point, that’s, I think, what is challenging to play against her.”
This was the second year in a row that Svitolina had to overcome a former #1 ranked superstar so early into her US Open tournament. However, she played an excellent round of tennis and overcame Williams after much back and forth. In front of a fantastic crowd at the Louis Armstrong Stadium, Svitolina upset the odds and sent Williams packing with a vintage display.
Williams was magnanimous in defeat, too, saying: “Today was a great match. It was well-contested and it was great to have the crowd behind me. It was just a really magical atmosphere.”
For Svitolina, the next challenge will be Rebecca Paterson or Dayana Yastremska.
