MIAMI, FL, USA - World No.4 Elina Svitolina advanced into her first Miami Open quarterfinal on Monday, dismissing rising Aussie star Ashleigh Barty, 7-5, 6-4.
Svitolina narrowly escaped former doubles partner Daria Gavrilova on Sunday, and appeared on course for another long day against Barty, who kicked off 2018 with an impressive run to the Apia International Sydney final.
Just shy of her career-high ranking of No.16, the 21-year-old Aussie drew first blood in the opening set, racing out to a 5-2 lead. But Svitolina, who had never lost to Barty in three previous meetings, dropped just five more points in the next five games.
The highest-ever ranked Ukrainian player, Svitolina took that momentum into the second set, coming out on the right end of three consecutive service breaks to hold on to the hard-fought victory and serving out the 80 minute encounter to love.
Svitolina posted solid numbers throughout, winning 87% of her first serve points and converting four of five break point opportunities to book her place in her first quarterfinal in Crandon Park - her best result at a Premier Mandatory tournament outside the China Open, where she reached the semifinals and quarterfinals in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
Up next for the World No.4 will be a big-hitter from Monday night's Stadium Court clash between No.5 seed Jelena Ostapenko and No.9 seed Petra Kvitova. Ostapenko won their only prior match-up at Wimbledon last summer while Kvitova has won their last seven matches with Svitolina winning only their first meeting back at the 2014 Western & Southern Open.
More to come...
