WTA finals: defending champion Wozniacki eliminated – Svitolina in semi-finals

Elina Svitolina has reached the semi-finals of the WTA final in Singapore in a real battle of nerves. The Ukrainian defeated defending champion Caroline Wozniacki with 5:7, 7:5, 6:3. The Dane would have only needed a two-set victory to advance.

After 2:35 hours Svitolina converted her second match point to 5:7, 7:5, xx:xx against Australian-Open-Champ Wozniacki. For the first time, Svitolina is now in the preliminary round of the season finals of the top eight players.

With her third success in the third game, the World Ranking Seventh also secured victory in the White Group ahead of Karolina Pliskova (two victories), who had defeated her Czech compatriot Petra Kvitova (no victory) 6-3, 6-4 in the first game of the day.

The decision in the Red Group will be made on Friday. There, all four players still have a theoretical chance of reaching the semi-finals. Angelique Kerber would definitely make it to the semifinals with a win against Sloane Stephens (USA) in two rounds.

A defeat would mean the end of the seven million dollar tournament for the Wimbledon winner, a three-set success would have to bring out the slide rules, because in the final account there would be a three-way comparison between Kerber, Stephens and Kiki Bertens.

Wozniacki was able to withstand the pressure from Svitolina, who were so convincing in their first two games. Even when the Dane was 4-5 behind in the first run and only one loss from early elimination, she kept her nerve and made up for it.

Immediately after that, she took off her serve from Svitolina. With her first ace, Wozniacki took the opening set a little later after 57 minutes, in which she allowed herself only eight easy mistakes – with twelve winners. Svitolina came in the first scarce hour on a balanced 11:11 balance.

The match at a high level was also dominated by intensive and often long rallies. And Wozniacki got into another situation when she stood with her back to the wall (4:5). And every day the groundhog greets you – in a way.

First Wozniacki managed 5:5 again, before she lost her service at 5:6 – and was eliminated due to the loss of the set. The 28-year-old, who won the first major event of her career in Melbourne in January 2018, had reached the final of the unofficial World Cup in 2017 and 2010.

In the third set, neither of the two players let themselves down, although the most important decision had been made. But at least it was also about the 153,000 dollar prize money, which is paid per match success. 24-year-old Svitolina, who has won three titles so far in 2018 (Brisbane, Dubai, Rome) had the better end for herself.