The sun-drenched clay courts of the Mutua Madrid Open bore witness to a masterclass in resilience and precision on April 27, 2025, as Elina Svitolina delivered a breathtaking performance to defeat 10th seed Elena Rybakina 6-3, 6-4 in the third round. The Ukrainian’s victory, her ninth consecutive win and 18th straight set, marked her first triumph over Rybakina since 2021 and propelled her into the round of 16 at the Caja Mágica for the first time in her career. This electrifying display not only underscored Svitolina’s resurgence but also sent shockwaves through a tournament already brimming with surprises.
Svitolina, ranked No. 17, arrived in Madrid riding the momentum of her WTA 250 title in Rouen, where she didn’t drop a set. Her clay-court prowess was evident from the outset against Rybakina, a 2022 Wimbledon champion struggling to recapture her 2024 form, when she reached the Madrid semifinals. The Kazakh, who had fallen out of the Top 10 for the first time since January 2023, was coming off a 6-3, 6-2 rout of Bianca Andreescu. Yet, Svitolina’s tactical acumen and relentless aggression exposed Rybakina’s vulnerabilities, with the latter committing a staggering 48 unforced errors. “I was just trying to stay steady,” Svitolina said post-match, reflecting on her strategy to keep Rybakina on the defensive. Her ability to dictate rallies and capitalize on errors proved decisive in a match that lasted just over an hour.
The opening set saw Svitolina seize control early, breaking Rybakina’s serve with a blistering forehand winner. Her movement on the clay, honed by years of experience, allowed her to counter Rybakina’s powerful groundstrokes while maintaining an impeccable 81% first-serve point win rate. Rybakina, visibly frustrated, struggled to find her rhythm, a stark contrast to her commanding performance against Andreescu. “She’s a tough opponent, she reads the game well,” Rybakina had said of Svitolina before the match, acknowledging the challenge. The Ukrainian’s tactical nous shone through as she closed the first set 6-3, her serves landing with pinpoint accuracy.
In the second set, Rybakina fought to regain her footing, but Svitolina’s consistency proved insurmountable. A crucial break at 4-4, sparked by a deft drop shot, gave Svitolina the edge. She sealed the match with a confident hold, her 20th win of 2025 and sixth against a Top 20 player. “I’m really happy with the way I played,” Svitolina remarked, her joy tempered by focus as she looked ahead to a fourth-round clash with Maria Sakkari. The victory marked a significant milestone for Svitolina, who had never advanced past the third round in Madrid across 10 prior appearances.
Svitolina’s resurgence is a story of grit and reinvention. After welcoming daughter Skai in 2022 and battling injuries, the 29-year-old has roared back, her Rouen title signaling a return to elite form. Rybakina, meanwhile, faces questions about her consistency, with back-to-back losses to lower-ranked players this season. Her 3-2 head-to-head lead over Svitolina, including a 2024 Roland Garros win, made this upset all the more significant. Fans on social media hailed Svitolina’s “special tennis,” with one noting, “Serving bigger, moving as well as ever, hitting harder than ever.” As Svitolina eyes a deep run in Madrid, her fiery performance against Rybakina has cemented her as a force to watch on the road to Roland Garros.
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