WTA Finals: Elina Svitolina crowned with victory over Sloane Stephens in Singapore

Elina Svitolina has crowned herself unofficial tennis world champion in Singapore. The Ukrainian defeated Sloane Stephens in three sets.

The WTA Finals in Singapore have a new championesse: Elina Svitolina, the 24-year-old Ukrainian, won the last big single title on the Tour this season. Svitolina defeated the one year older Sloane Stephens 3:6, 6:2 and

Stephens, who was unbeaten by the season finale until the final, got off to a better start and quickly led 3-0. Reason enough for Svitolina to ask her coach Andrew Bettles for a talk early on. Stephens took the first act after 46 minutes with 6:3.

However, Svitolina came into the game better now, robbing her opponent more and more of her nerve, especially with an outstanding running performance: For Stephens there were almost no easy points left, Svitolina played almost every ball back into the field. And took the initiative on occasion. The set compensation with the 6:2 after a total playing time of 1:35 hours was the logical consequence.

Both players had to go over three sets in their semi-finals on Saturday. Stephens was helpless against Karolina Pliskova until 0:6 and 0:2, after which the US Open winner of 2017 turned the game around. Svitolina solved the task of Kiki Bertens also only over the full distance.

The decision in the final could not have started worse for Stephens: The US player lost her serve to 0:2 after a marathon game, but did not manage to use several breakballs for her immediate comeback.

The fact that the US player nevertheless managed the rebreak to 2:3 was no surprise. It’s more likely that Svitolina wouldn’t give up a game after that. And after 2:22 hours playing time to congratulate her on the greatest success of her career.