Elina Svitolina showcased her determination by defeating the world’s fourth-ranked player at the Australian Open 2025.
Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina has advanced to the 1/8 finals of the 2025 Australian Open. In the third round, our athlete defeated the world’s fourth seed, Jasmine Paolini.
Australian Open 2025, 1/16 finals
Elina Svitolina (Ukraine, WTA No. 27) – Jasmine Paolini (Italy, WTA No. 4) – 2:6, 6:4, 6:0
The match lasted 1 hour and 49 minutes. This was the first encounter between the two competitors. The players started the first set evenly, but at a score of 2:2, Elina lost the next four games and fell behind – 2:6. In the second set, Svitolina significantly improved her game, while Paolini began to make more unforced errors.
Sensational. @ElinaSvitolina's #AO2025 run ain't over yet.@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/WyccRwfbem
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2025
In the third set, the Ukrainian dominated, not allowing her opponent to win a single game, and won decisively – 6:0.
OH MY WORD, SVITOLINA ?
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2025
Breaks, then holds serve, and this match is as Elina takes a 3-1 lead in the second set.@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/14PdhdTsXg
Interestingly, before Elina's match, her husband Gael Monfils played on the same court. In his third-round match, he also knocked out the fourth seed after losing the first set.
For Svitolina, this victory marked her 40th win against top-10 ranked players, out of 82 matches. Notably, she had never previously defeated a top-10 opponent at the Australian Open, while she had done so at all other Grand Slam tournaments. Additionally, Elina secured her 21st victory over a top-5 ranked player at the Tour level and her second at Grand Slam events.
Svitolina will compete in the fourth round of a major for the 20th time and for the fifth time on the Melbourne courts. Her best result in Australia is reaching the quarter-finals, which she achieved twice – in 2018 and 2019. She will fight for a spot in the quarter-finals against "neutral" Veronika Kudermetova (WTA No. 75).
It’s worth noting that Svitolina is the only representative from Ukraine still in contention in the singles draw at the 2025 Australian Open. Marta Kostyuk and Dayana Yastremska were unable to advance past the third round, while Angelina Kalinina, Yuliya Starodubtseva, and Daria Snigur were eliminated in the first round. In doubles, Lyudmyla Kichenok and Marta Kostyuk, along with their partners, have reached the third round, while Nadiia Kichenok and Angelina Kalinina are still competing in the second round.