WTA Finals: Elina Svitolina after victory over Kiki Bertens in Singapore Final

Elina Svitolina is the first player to reach the final of the WTA Finals in Singapore. The Ukrainian beat Kiki Bertens from the Netherlands in three sets.

Elina Svitolina is on the brink of her greatest career success: The 24-year-old from the Ukraine won 7-5, 6-7 (5) and 6-4 against Kiki Bertens from the Netherlands after a hard fight and can become the unofficial tennis world champion on Sunday.

Svitolina had a better start into the third duel with Bertens, the 26-year-old Dutch rider managed the rebreak, but had to give up the first round with 5:7. Reverse sign in the second act, this time Svitolina was constantly running behind, but saved herself in a tiebreak. There it went back and forth, after 1:43 hours Bertens played her fourth set ball – and used this few moments later.

In the decision Svitolina presented again, but could not set after a marathon game to 2:0. After 2:38 hours the Ukrainian could be congratulated on her entry into the final.

For Svitolina, the season after defending her title in Rome had not gone according to plan, the Ukrainian had only won one match in her last three appearances before Singapore. Svitolina also had to tremble in the preliminary round in her last group game, missed a high lead against Caroline Wozniacki in the first round and finally trembled to the set win necessary for her progress.

Bertens, on the other hand, had celebrated the greatest success of her career in Cincinnati, where she defeated the injured world number one Simona Halep in the final. It was there that Bertens had defeated Svitolina. At the start of the Saiao final, Bertens made a comeback win over Angelique Kerber, while in the final group game the Dutch player benefited from Naomi Osaka’s abandonment.

The second semi-final will be contested by US Open 2017 winner Sloane Stephens and Karolina Pliskova from the Czech Republic (in our LIVE-TICKER and on DAZN).