Svitolina turns it up late, dispatches Korpatsch to reach Roland Garros second week

Elina Svitolina looked every bit the Rome champion against Tamara Korpatsch on Friday at Roland Garros, blitzing the German from a break down in the second set to close out a 6-2, 6-3 win in 1 hour and 31 minutes.

Roland Garros: Scores | Order of play | Draws 

The victory sends the No. 7 seed into the Round of 16 for the fourth straight year. Since reaching her first Roland Garros fourth round in 2015, only Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek (22 each) have made as many trips to the second week at Grand Slams as the Ukrainian (22).

“It’s crazy to think that it’s been so many years already on tour and playing at such a high level,” Svitolina said in her on-court interview. “I try to always bring the fight and consistency every time I step on the court. I’m very happy (to be) here in Paris. I really enjoy playing and competing -- it’s almost like my home Slam in a way.

“Growing up, somehow in Ukraine (Roland Garros) was the only tournament that was streamed. So that’s why I always dreamed of having a chance to play here one day. And then playing so many great matches, great battles and being in the second week and having these opportunities for big matches, it’s just unreal to think that.”

Svitolina’s next test will come against No. 11 seed Belinda Bencic or Peyton Stearns depending on the outcome of their third-round match later Friday. Whoever advances, Svitolina will enter the fourth round on a nine-match winning streak.

More to come...