Elina Svitolina was well aware of the significance of this match. The Ukrainian tennis player found herself trailing a set against a Russian opponent. The spectators in attendance, many of whom were part of Ukraine’s sizable community in the Greater Toronto Area, were deeply engaged in every point during the National Bank Open quarterfinal on a poignant Monday evening. Despite the challenging start, Svitolina rallied and secured a spot in the semifinals.
Seeded ninth and the winner of the 2017 tournament, Svitolina staged a comeback to defeat Ekaterina Alexandrova with a score of 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, advancing on centre court at Sobeys Stadium. Reflecting on her performance, Svitolina remarked, “I had to really try to find opportunities. I found my game.” She is now set to face Iga Swiatek on Wednesday in a bid for a place in the final. Swiatek, the seventh seed, defeated the fifteenth seed Diana Shnaider of Russia with a score of 6-2, 6-1.
A six-time Grand Slam winner, Swiatek, who claimed the Wimbledon title last year, reached the NBO semifinals in 2023 but was bested by Jessica Pegula, the subsequent back-to-back champion. “I feel like I’m for sure better focused,” Swiatek commented on her current game state. “I’m able to follow the plan a little bit easier because I feel the ball good on my racket.”
The remaining women’s singles quarterfinal matches are scheduled for Tuesday. Elena Rybakina, the second seed from Kazakhstan, will face off against the eleventh seed Naomi Osaka of Japan, while the fourth seed Coco Gauff of the United States will challenge the twelfth seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland.
Following the first set, where she struggled with three double faults, Svitolina found her rhythm in the subsequent sets. With a series of break-point opportunities, she managed to secure the win in one hour and 33 minutes. Svitolina, who has already defeated Swiatek twice this season, emphasized the importance of physicality and long rallies in their upcoming match. On the other hand, Swiatek dominated her match against Shnaider, securing a semifinal spot in just 64 minutes, displaying exceptional control and adaptability to the windy conditions.
The stage is set for an exciting semifinal showdown between Svitolina and Swiatek, with both players expected to receive enthusiastic support from their fans. In doubles competition, Canadians Duncan Chan and Alexis Galarneau’s impressive run at the men’s National Bank Open came to an end with a quarterfinal loss. Croat Mate Pavic and El Salvador’s Marcelo Arevalo emerged victorious, setting up a semifinal clash against either French duo Theo Arribage and Albano Olivetti or the Russian-Hungarian pair of Daniil Medvedev and Fabian Marozsan.