Elina Svitolina scored her fortieth win of the 12 months, tying Jessica Pegula for Tour lead.
By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, August 10, 2026
Photograph credit score: Nationwide Financial institution Open Fb
Deficits solely deepen Elene Svitolina’s drive.
Overwhelmed within the opening set, Svitolina stormed by way of eight straight video games dispatching Ekaterina Alexandrova 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 to achieve the Nationwide Financial institution Open semifinals for the third time.
Lashing a crosscourt backhand strike, Svitolina broke at love to finish a 93-minute comeback conquest then did a working victory leap in celebration.
The ninth-seeded Svitolina improved to 40-11 on the season, matching Jessica Pegula for many wins on the WTA Tour this season.
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Rome champion Svitolina scored her tenth consecutive WTA 1000 match win and arrange a a semifinal rematch vs. former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
The 31-year-old Svitolina is enjoying for her twenty first profession championship, and her first Canadian Open crown since she collected the 2017 title.
In tonight’s first quarterfinal, Swiatek deconstructed Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-1 driving into her second semifinal of the season. Svitolina edged Swiatek in a three-set Rome semifinal on purple clay in Might.
Six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek has gained 4 of their seven profession clashes, however Svitolina has defeated the Pole in each of their 2026 conferences. Svitolina scored a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 conquer Swiatek within the Indian Wells quarterfinals final March.
When the explosive Alexandrova is timing the ball effectively and getting sufficient web clearance, she will torch even elite opponents together with her down the road missiles. Alexandrova confirmed simply how harmful she could be toppling world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka within the spherical of 16 and replicated that imposing kind for a set tonight.
Enjoying off her entrance foot, Alexandrova was driving her flat backhand down the road with menace as Svitolina tried to increase the rallies.
Going through a 3rd break level, Svitolina sank a double fault into the online. Svitolina swiped her racquet in disgust, ceding the break and a 3-2 result in Alexandrova.
Whipping an ace out broad, Alexandrova wiped away a break level. Alexandrova labored the broad serve to arrange her first strike shrewdly, backing up the break for 4-2.
Pounding flat strikes with conviction, Alexandrova blind-sided Svitolina with a pair of jolting return winners that helped her acquire triple set level.
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A rattled Svitolina sailed a drive as Alexandrova broke at like to cap a stirring 29-minute set of daring first-strike tennis. Alexandrova blistered 12 winners—9 greater than Svitolina—within the first set.
Responding by various her spins and including a bit extra slice, Svitolina broke to begin the second set.
Svitolina was connecting on her first serve with extra depth as she held at 30 to increase to 4-0. Svitolina was putting in clear mixtures whereas Alexandrova was typically crashing her flat drives into the highest of the tape. Svitolina drew one other error breaking for a 5-0 benefit after 48 minutes of play.
Svitolina’s physique management and ability bending the ball into the corners whereas on the run was on full show when she served out the second set. Dropping to her knees, Aga Radwanska type, Svitolina steered a backhand into the nook for set level. One other sharp-angled backhand crosscourt accomplished the second set bagel Svitolina baked as much as drive a ultimate set after 53 minutes.
In a ball-control clinic, Svitolina surged by way of eight straight video games for a 2-0 lead within the decider.
The Sixteenth-seeded Alexandrova held to snap her eight-game slide and win her first recreation since she broke to take the opening set.
Svitolina reads the play and her opponent’s intent shrewdly. Pouncing on a mid-court net-cord quick, Svitolina smacked a diagonal backhand strike to interrupt for a 4-1 lead.
Although Svitolina double faulted away a break, she instantly responded. Svitolina rolled by way of the love break to finish it in a single hour, 33 minutes.
Hanging the ball cleanly, Svitolina units her sights on a 3rd straight win over Swiatek and a shot to win her third title of the 12 months after championship runs in Auckland and Rome.
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Richard Pagliaro. Richard Pagliaro is Tennis Now Managing Editor. He’s a graduate of New York College and has lined professional tennis for greater than 35 years. Richard was tennis columnist for Gannett Newspapers in NY, served as Managing Editor for TennisWeek.com and labored as a author/editor for Tennis.com. He has been TennisNow.com managing editor since 2010.
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