Elina Svitolina produced an impressive all-round display to beat Cincinnati champion Madison Keys 7-5 6-4 and reach her first US Open quarter-final.
The Ukrainian, 24, lost to the American in New York at the same stage two years ago, but she has clearly figured out how to beat her since then.
Svitolina beat Keys in three sets at the Australian Open earlier this year, and she is understandably delighted to have beaten her even more convincingly this time around.
“It was really good serving from me tonight,” the Ukrainian said. “I was feeling really good with my footwork as well. I’m very pleased that I could play very consistently.”
Svitolina outplays Keys in the first set
Svitolina won the first set because she was smarter and steadier than Keys. She won 91% of points on her first serve and only made six unforced errors.
This reliability meant that she did not face a single break point and could apply pressure when the American served.
That pressure was on Keys right from the start, as the Ukrainian took her to deuce in the opening game of the match.
The World No.9 also had to work for her next hold, and in game seven Svitolina produced two excellent passing shots to give her even more to think about.
Despite the difficulty she faced on serve, the American stayed in touch with the Ukrainian to keep the score level at 4-4 after eight games.
Keys then played a great game. She hammered down a series of great serves and played very aggressively on another point that she finished at the net.
However, American faltered in game eleven. She served poorly, and the Ukrainian took advantage. She dragged the World No.9 into longer rallies, drew her into a succession of errors and got the first break of the match.
Svitolina then kept her focus when she was serving for the set. She played four good, solid points and that was all she needed to clinch it 7-5. She celebrated with a determined fist clench and a steely stare.
Svitolina maintains control
Unfortunately for Keys, the pattern of play did not change at the start of the second set. The World No.5 held comfortably and then made life as difficult as possible for the American in game three.
Svitolina used her defensive skills to great effect to lengthen several rallies and get the score to deuce. After earning and wasting one break point, she gained another chance with a superb cross-court backhand winner. She then secured the break when Keys made an error.
The World No.9 had a slight chance to break at 30-30 in game six. However, she failed to take advantage, and this allowed the Ukrainian to move 4-2 ahead.
To her credit, the American gathered herself and played two superb service games to force Svitolina to serve for the match at 5-4.
But Keys still did not manage to put any pressure on the Ukrainian’s serve in the final game. She made a couple more unforced errors to gift the World No.5 the final game and take her final tally to 39. Then she signed a few tennis balls as quickly as she could before rushing off court.
Svitolina prepares to face Konta next
For Svitolina, this feels like a big win. She has knocked out one of the pre-tournament favourites and must now be confident about her own chances of winning the US Open.
To do that, she will have to beat another player in top form: Johanna Konta. The Brit followed routs of Margarita Gasparyan and Zhang Shuai with only her second win in eight meetings against Karolina Pliskova to reach the last eight, and the Ukrainian is understandably wary of the threat she poses.
“It’s going to be another great battle. I’m looking forward to facing her. We’ve always had tough matches and for me it’s going to be another challenge and I will try to be out there with my best game.”
