Photo: EPA
Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina has reached the semifinals of the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto, Canada, after defeating “neutral” Russian player Ekaterina Alexandrova in three sets.
In the quarterfinals on Tuesday, August 11, Svitolina rallied from a set down to beat the 16th seed 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 in 1 hour and 33 minutes. The Ukrainian dominated the second set and then built a strong lead in the decider to secure the victory.
“I was really trying to show my speed today. I needed to get back into the match in the second set and then, of course, play well in the third. I’m very happy with my performance and the way I fought,” Svitolina said after the match.
She added that Alexandrova had played very well in the opening set, forcing her to fight her way back into the match.
In the semifinals, Svitolina will face eighth-ranked Iga Swiatek. The upcoming match will be another meeting between the two players this season.
Svitolina has enjoyed a strong 2026 season, winning titles in Auckland and Rome and reaching the semifinals in Dubai, Indian Wells, Stuttgart and the Australian Open.
The Ukrainian entered the Toronto tournament as the ninth seed and has now advanced to the last four of the WTA 1000 event.
