The last match on stadium court saw Caroline Wozniacki pitted against Elina Svitolina for a place in the fourth round at the Miami Open. They were meeting for the first time with both players looking to get the upper hand. In the end it was Svitolina who came back from a set down to win the battle 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (1) to advance to the fourth round.
Wozniacki Edges The First Set Which Saw Plenty Of Breaks
The first four games went on serve as neither player was troubled. Wozniacki was made to work a little bit harder in her service games while the Ukrainian was winning all her first serves that she was able to put in in her first two games. Wozniacki faced her first challenge in the fifth game having to fight off three break points, first from a backhand that just narrowly missed the line. She saved it in a subsequent rally moving Svitolina side to side and gaining the upper hand. Her struggle with getting her first serves in was allowing Svitolina to pounce on the short and slower second serves to good effect. The Dane, though, hung on for 3-2.
Svitolina got another break point in the seventh game and again she attacked on the second serve, this time coming up with a deep return that Wozniacki could only help into the net. The Ukrainian got the break and the lead for 4-3. However, it was now Svitolina who struggled to get her first serves in, and Wozniacki challenged a shot midpoint correctly, getting herself two break points. She got the break back at the first offering with a forehand down the line return that the Ukrainian netted to level the set 4-4.
She failed to follow it up though, handing Svitolina with three break points. The Ukrainian converted, returning a serve with authority as she broke for the lead for 5-4. However, she started making errors while serving for the set allowing the Dane with double break opportunity. Svitolina hit long and Wozniacki got herself back in the match for 5-5. Wozniacki then stopped the series of breaks to get herself back in front 6-5.
Svitolina looked to be in control to bring the set to a tiebreak until a forehand into the net presented Wozniacki with her first set point. The Ukrainian came up with a huge serve to save it. However, the Dane was able to again pounce on a weaker second serve to carve herself another set point. Again Svitolina didn’t panic, saving it with a down the line winner. The longest rally of the match saw Wozniacki come out on top for her third set point. Third time was the charm as the Dane grabbed the first set 7-5 after some great play.
Svitolina Gets A Crucial Break To Level The Match
The second set started in a similar fashion to the first. Both players were able to hold their serve without facing any break points until the seventh game. Wozniacki overcooked her backhand to hand two break points to the Ukrainian in a poor game. Svitolina turned up her aggression, breaking at the second opportunity with a stinging forehand winner to go up 4-3.
The Ukrainian consolidated the break with a love hold to extend her lead to 5-3. Svitolina was eager to get the set done and dusted, setting up double set points with a backhand winner. She missed the first hitting a return into the net and Wozniacki responded once more with an angled backhand winner that Svitolina could barely reach. The Dane hung on brilliantly to force Svitolina to serve for the match. Svitolina however was too strong as she wrapped the set 6-4 to bring it to a decider.
Tussle Goes Right Down To The Wire As Svitolina Eventually Gets It Done In A Tiebreak
The Dane had three break points in a sloppy game from Svitolina and got the early break for a 2-0 lead. It didn’t last for long though as the Ukrainian came charging back with three break points of her own, and getting the break right back. Svitolina held her serve with ease before breaking Wozniacki one more time, winning three games in a row to go up 3-2.
That lead came under threat once again as Wozniacki came up with some great defensive play to get herself triple break back points. Svitolina seemed to rush things as she got broken once again for 3-3. The set then progressed on serves, and the Dane held an important service game to keep herself in front at 5-4. Svitolina remained calm and served her way to level the set 5-5.
Pressure was now back on Wozniacki and it was drawing errors from her as she went down 0-30. The Dane though improved her serves considerably winning four points in a row to get the edge yet again for 6-5. The Ukrainian followed suit coming back from 0-30 down to seal the game and bringing the set to a tiebreaker.
Svitolina got the first mini break to go up 2-1 as Wozniacki struggled to win points on her serve. The Ukrainian was very much in control racing to a 6-1 lead earning herself five match points. It was too big a task for the Dane who eventually succumbed in a two hour, 42 minute gruelling battle.
Match By The Numbers
Svitolina won in the service department, hitting more aces and getting in 66 percent of her first serves compared to Wozniacki’s 50 percent.
The Ukrainian was also firing more winners from both sides hitting 32 winners to Wozniacki’s 24. The Dane was slightly untidy as well hitting 42 unforced errors while Svitolina hit slightly lesser at 39.
They both broke each other five times even though Svitolina had four more chances than Wozniacki.