TORONTO — Elina Svitolina grasped the stakes of this match more than ever.
Down a set against a formidable Russian rival, the Ukrainian tennis sensation stood resolute.
A wave of emotions swept through the stands, where her supporters—many part of the vibrant Ukrainian community in the Greater Toronto Area—hung on every point during a thrilling National Bank Open quarterfinal on a charged Monday night.
With grit and determination, Svitolina rallied to secure her spot in the semifinals.
The No. 9 seed and 2017 champion battled back to defeat Ekaterina Alexandrova 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, advancing triumphantly at Sobeys Stadium.
“I really focused on seizing my opportunities,” Svitolina expressed. “I rediscovered my game.”
Next up, she faces Iga Swiatek on Wednesday in a bid for the final, after Swiatek, seeded No. 7, overpowered No. 15 Diana Shnaider—also from Russia—with a decisive score of 6-2, 6-1.
A six-time Grand Slam champion, including her recent Wimbledon victory, Swiatek reached the NBO semifinals in 2023, only to fall to Jessica Pegula, who clinched back-to-back titles.
“I feel considerably more focused now,” Swiatek remarked about her recent performances. “I’m executing my game plan with ease, connecting well with the ball.”
Other women’s singles quarterfinals take place on Tuesday, featuring No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan against Japan’s No. 11 Naomi Osaka, while No. 4 Coco Gauff from the U.S. will clash with No. 12 Belinda Bencic from Switzerland.
Svitolina reflected on the palpable energy from the audience during her match, especially against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing aggression towards Ukraine, which has now persisted for nearly half a decade.
“I do feel an added weight when playing against any opponent,” she noted. “Toronto has a thriving Ukrainian population, and I cherish their incredible support—it truly inspires me.”
Earlier, Alexandrova knocked out world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, paving her way to the quarterfinals in this $7.4 million tournament.
“This Toronto support energizes me,” Svitolina added. “Even when I’m down a set and struggling, it motivates me to continue fighting—not just for myself, but for my country.”
She certainly needed that resolve after a shaky first set where she recorded three double faults.
Having previously defeated Caroline Wozniacki in the Canadian finals nine years ago, Svitolina turned the tide in the second set, seizing a trio of break-point opportunities and capitalizing on another three in the final set to clinch victory at 5-3, completing the match in just one hour and 33 minutes.
Throughout this season, Svitolina has triumphed over Swiatek twice, including a victory on clay in Rome this past May.
“We definitely know each other’s games well,” Svitolina said. “Staying physically strong will be crucial; expect many lengthy rallies.”
Swiatek surged ahead with an early break against Shnaider and maintained a 4-2 lead in front of her loyal Polish supporters, who filled the audience with flags, jerseys, hats, and chants of “Iga! Iga!”
Recognizing her momentum, she broke again at 5-2 before successfully serving to take the first set.
In the second set, Swiatek broke Shnaider early to lead 2-1 and swiftly extended her advantage to 4-1 with another break, as Shnaider mishandled a return.
Swiatek sealed the match when Shnaider sent a return into the net, securing her spot in the semifinals in just 64 minutes.
Never facing a break-point chance herself in challenging windy conditions, Swiatek converted five of her own after Shnaider had yielded only four throughout the tournament.
“I adapted well to the conditions,” she commented. “It was certainly the windiest match I’ve played in this tournament.”
When Swiatek and Svitolina meet in the semis on Wednesday, the atmosphere is sure to be electric, with passionate support for both competitors.
