Svitolina Advances, Setting Up Ukrainian Showdown in Rouen

ROUEN, France — Top seed Elina Svitolina defeated Swiss Jil Teichmann for the second time in just a few days, winning 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of the WTA 250 Open Capfinances Rouen Métropole on Wednesday.

Svitolina, who is aiming to regain her top form after a series of injuries, initially struggled, losing serve in the first game. However, she quickly rebounded, breaking Teichmann in the second and tenth games to take the first set. The Ukrainian then dominated the second set, winning the first four games before securing victory.

“It felt great to get back on the court and compete at a high level,” Svitolina said after the match. “I had to stay focused after a shaky start, but I found my rhythm and played my game.”

With her win, Svitolina also secured Ukraine’s place in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals last weekend, where she bested Teichmann with the same score.

Next, Svitolina will face fellow Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina in a much-anticipated matchup in the quarter-finals. The two have faced each other three times previously, with Svitolina winning each match.

Meanwhile, Dutch player Suzan Lamens made headlines by eliminating former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu. Lamens edged out Andreescu in a thrilling match that lasted 2 hours and 34 minutes, winning 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(2).

“I was so pleased to stay calm and pull through in such a close match,” Lamens stated after her victory. “It’s always tough playing against a player with Bianca’s resume, but today I stepped up.”

Andreescu, who returned to competition after an emergency appendectomy earlier this year, appeared rusty but managed to deliver exciting tennis, demonstrating her trademark resilience. Her ranking has plummeted to No. 130 due to her extended absence from the sport.

In keeping with the tournament’s theme of surprises, 19-year-old French qualifier Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah secured her quarter-final spot after defeating Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian, 6-2, 6-3. This victory marked her first appearance in the WTA quarter-finals, having not dropped a set throughout the event.

In other matches, Linda Noskova bested American Bernarda Pera after recovering from a set and a break down, winning 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4. Jessika Ponchet, who entered the draw as a lucky loser, defeated fellow French competitor Fiona Ferro, 7-6(4), 6-4, to advance to the quarter-finals.

All eyes will be on Thursday’s matches, which will include five second-round contests. As the tournament progresses, fans are eager to see if Svitolina can continue her winning streak and secure a spot in the semi-finals.