By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, January 21, 2024
Pushing again tears leaking from her eyes, Elina Svitolina trudged off Margaret Courtroom Area with a wave to followers.
Svitolina’s Australian Open run got here to a painful and untimely finish right now.
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Again spasms she suffered in a 20-point opening sport plagued Svitolina.
The No. 19-seeded Svitolina took remedy for her again concern after the second sport, however was clearly compromised.
After 23 minutes of play, Svitolina retired trailing Linda Noskova, 0-3, because the Fiftieth-ranked Czech superior to her maiden AO quarterfinal.
“I received a spasm, or I do not know precisely what it’s, however like capturing ache within the first sport, the final two factors,” Svitolina stated. “Yeah, could not do something. Fully locked my again. Simply very unhappy, after all, so yeah.
“My low again utterly locked. So, yeah, I am actually in ache even strolling, turning. I can not transfer side-to-side. Yeah, very unusual.”
The 2023 Wimbledon semifinalist departs Melbourne in ache, however takes nice pleasure in her nation’s efficiency.
Seven Ukrainian girls began this Melbourne fortnight, two are nonetheless standing and one—qualifier Dayana Yastremska—is already by means of to her maiden quarterfinal.
World No. 93 Yastremska hit two-time AO champion Victoria Azarenka off the court docket bursting by means of six of the ultimate seven video games in a 7-6(6), 6-4 triumph on Rod Laver Area. Azarenka’s defeat means we’ll see a maiden main finalist from the highest half of the draw.
Although Noskova and again spasms denied the prospect of an all-Ukrainian quarterfinal between Svitolina and Yastremska, the Odessa-born Svitolina is gratified Yastremska and Marta Kostyuk, who faces Coco Gauff on Tuesday, are nonetheless flying the Ukrainian flag.
“It is nice for Ukrainian tennis. In fact, now I really feel very outdated due to my well being, however I am completely satisfied that they’re doing nice,” Svitolina stated. “t’s nice for Ukrainian tennis. It is nice for the upcoming technology as properly, particularly now as of late when Ukraine in such a troublesome time.”
Ukrainian girls made historical past at this Melbourne main: For the primary time in historical past three Ukrainian girls reached the fourth spherical of a Grand Slam. Given the hardship Ukrainian residents face from Russia’s unprovoked invasion of the nation, Svitolina stated this collective run exhibits the energy of characters
“It is good that we’ve robust Ukrainian women. Yeah, hopefully we are able to proceed to construct on this,” Svitolina stated. “Additionally, it is nice for Billie Jean King Cup as properly.
“I am trying ahead to play in April the tie and hopefully get an opportunity to play in the primary group in addition to a staff occasion. It is good to lastly get an opportunity to play there with such nice gamers, so many good degree gamers. It is thrilling.”
Picture credit score: Darrian Traynor/Getty
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