By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, January 21, 2024
Pushing again tears leaking from her eyes, Elina Svitolina trudged off Margaret Court docket Enviornment with a wave to followers.
Svitolina’s Australian Open run got here to a painful and untimely finish as we speak.
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Again spasms she suffered in a 20-point opening recreation plagued Svitolina.
The No. 19-seeded Svitolina took therapy for her again problem after the second recreation, however was clearly compromised.
After 23 minutes of play, Svitolina retired trailing Linda Noskova, 0-3, because the Fiftieth-ranked Czech superior to her maiden AO quarterfinal.
“I bought a spasm, or I do not know precisely what it’s, however like capturing ache within the first recreation, the final two factors,” Svitolina mentioned. “Yeah, could not do something. Fully locked my again. Simply very unhappy, in fact, so yeah.
“My low again fully locked. So, yeah, I am actually in ache even strolling, turning. I can’t transfer side-to-side. Yeah, very unusual.”
The 2023 Wimbledon semifinalist departs Melbourne in ache, however takes nice delight in her nation’s efficiency.
Seven Ukrainian ladies began this Melbourne fortnight, two are nonetheless standing and one—qualifier Dayana Yastremska—is already by means of to her maiden quarterfinal.
World No. 93 Yastremska hit two-time AO champion Victoria Azarenka off the courtroom bursting by means of six of the ultimate seven video games in a 7-6(6), 6-4 triumph on Rod Laver Enviornment. Azarenka’s defeat means we’ll see a maiden main finalist from the highest half of the draw.
Although Noskova and again spasms denied the prospect of an all-Ukrainian quarterfinal between Svitolina and Yastremska, the Odessa-born Svitolina is gratified Yastremska and Marta Kostyuk, who faces Coco Gauff on Tuesday, are nonetheless flying the Ukrainian flag.
“It is nice for Ukrainian tennis. After all, now I really feel very previous due to my well being, however I am completely satisfied that they’re doing nice,” Svitolina mentioned. “t’s nice for Ukrainian tennis. It is nice for the upcoming technology as properly, particularly now today when Ukraine in such a tricky time.”
Ukrainian ladies made historical past at this Melbourne main: For the primary time in historical past three Ukrainian ladies reached the fourth spherical of a Grand Slam. Given the hardship Ukrainian residents face from Russia’s unprovoked invasion of the nation, Svitolina mentioned this collective run exhibits the power of characters
“It is good that we now have sturdy Ukrainian ladies. Yeah, hopefully we will proceed to construct on this,” Svitolina mentioned. “Additionally, it is nice for Billie Jean King Cup as properly.
“I am wanting ahead to play in April the tie and hopefully get an opportunity to play in the principle group in addition to a crew occasion. It is good to lastly get an opportunity to play there with such nice gamers, so many good stage gamers. It is thrilling.”
Photograph credit score: Darrian Traynor/Getty