Elina Svitolina winning Wimbledon would be 'most unbelievable story in tennis' after Iga Swiatek win - Mats Wilander
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Updated 11/07/2023 at 16:51 GMT
Elina Svitolina reached the Wimbledon semi-finals as she beat world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in three sets. Svitolina returned to the tour in April after giving birth, and Eurosport expert Mats Wilander said she was "one of the most remarkably mentally strong tennis players" he had ever seen. Wilander also praised Svitolina's "Cinderella" return and said he was "dumbfounded" by Swiatek's forehand.
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Mats Wilander believes it could be "the most unbelievable story in tennis ever” if Elina Svitolina goes on to win Wimbledon after she reached the semi-finals with victory over Iga Swiatek.
Svitolina only returned to the tour in April after giving birth to her first child.
This is her second Grand Slam appearance since returning and she has now taken out four former major champions to make the semis for a second time.
Svitolina, who has also been grappling with the war at home in Ukraine, fought back from a break down in the first set and then ran away with the third set to clinch victory in impressive fashion.
“That is one of the most remarkably mentally strong tennis players I have ever seen,” said Eurosport expert Wilander.
“Absolutely incredible when she was so close in the second set, the comeback in the first set, and then to win it so comfortably in the third set.
“Where does she get her strength from? There is so much going on in her life and has gone on, that’s good and not good because of the situation at home.
“It wasn’t so much about tactics, she was emotionally on top of it all the time and was pushing and pushing and pushing.
"Coming back from childbirth, her story is already incredible. How much better does that story get if she goes all the way here? Probably the most unbelievable story in tennis ever."
Svitolina, who also made the Wimbledon semis in 2019, took out 19th seed Victoria Azarenka in the previous round in three sets.
“I cannot believe we witnessed this again after she beat Victoria Azarenka in such fashion. It’s amazing,” added Wilander.
“It’s such a Cinderella story, we have had mums come back before and win Grand Slams but this is an amazing story and couldn’t happen to a nicer person.”
Swiatek was playing in the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time and struggled with her forehand.
While she hit 21 winners on that side, she also totalled 22 unforced errors.
“Iga didn’t play that well, she missed a lot of forehands,” said Wilander.
“I haven’t seen her forehand break down and she wasn’t getting it in the court. It was like she wasn’t sure if she should spin it or hit it flat. She missed them long, into the net, she might have gone for it too much in places.
“Is it the grass? Yes I think it is, and not quite knowing what to do with the forehand.”
Swiatek has played the best tennis of her career on clay and hard courts.
But she had said during her run to the quarter-finals that she was starting to feel more confident on grass.
“I think she has to learn that on grass courts to go for bigger targets,” said Wilander.
“She hits it with so much spin she doesn’t have to go so close to the lines and it’s difficult on a grass court to go close to the lines because you don’t know 100% that the ball will have a good bounce. I am a bit dumbfounded by the way she hit her forehand.”
Svitolina will next face Marketa Vondrousova after she beat fourth seed Jessica Pegula 6-4 2-6 6-4.
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You can watch daily highlights from Wimbledon at 10pm on Eurosport 2 and discovery+, as well as the two singles finals live on July 15 and 16.
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