Elina Svitolina is back in the ASB Classic final, where she will play Wang Xinyu, after grinding out a 7-6(5) 6-2 win over teenager Iva Jovic in Saturday night’s semifinal in Auckland.
The top seed was forced to dig deep in a tense opening set before her experience told in the second, booking another shot at the title she narrowly missed two years ago when she lost the final to Coco Gauff.
Svitolina was under immediate pressure against the fearless American, falling two breaks behind early in the match as Jovic struck the ball cleanly and went for winners.
But the Ukrainian steadied, reeled in the deficit and edged a tight tiebreak before asserting control late.
“Well it was a really tough match,” Svitolina said afterwards.
“I felt like in the first set it was really close, and I was two breaks down. So of course, she played really well.
“She strikes the ball, observes the pace really well, so I had to adjust little bits of my game style and try to fight and find a way. I’m very happy with a two-set win.”
The momentum from the tiebreak did not come automatically, with Jovic continuing to apply pressure early in the second set before Svitolina lifted her level.
“She was fired up even at the beginning of the second,” Svitolina said.
“So I had to stick to the game plan and try to play even better. I was very happy I could, tactically play better.”
The straight-sets win was a welcome contrast to Svitolina’s long, physical quarterfinal the night before, when she outlasted Sonay Kartal over three sets.
“Definitely, two sets, saves a little bit of energy,” she said.
“I’ll try to regroup now, have a treatment, recovery with my physio, and then, of course, talk tactically about the [final] match with my coach. [it’s] another final. I’m very happy to again, have this opportunity to play here in Auckland.
“Hopefully I can win it this time. It’s always important for me to win titles.”
A practice session earlier in the week with Jovic proved valuable for Svitolina as she prepared to face the American for the first time in competition.
“I could understand the way she plays, because I’d never seen how she played before the practice,” Svitolina said. “So for me, it was definitely a big help.”
While the second set swung decisively Svitolina’s way, she was quick to praise her opponent’s potential.
“I think I executed my game plan better than in the first set,” she said. “But also for her, it was difficult to keep going. She’s still very young, I’m sure in a couple of years time, she will perform unbelievable, and we’re going to see many titles for her.”