Down But Not Out: Svitolina Overcomes Difficult Pavlyuchenkova Challenge At US Open

| by Erik Virostko

Elina Svitolina had to dig really dip in her second-round match at the 2023 US Open, beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in three sets.

Grand Slam matches are never easy, and the two WTA veterans know a lot about that, as they both experienced many battles on the major level throughout their careers. Now, they met already in the second round of the event, after the Ukrainian won her first match at Flushing Meadows since 2021.

On the other hand, Pavlyuchenkova is still trying to find a way to navigate the challenges of returning to the WTA Tour, but in the second-round clash at the 2023 US Open, the Russian certainly showed that she's got what it takes to perform on the biggest stage.

Having met five times before, Pavlyuchenkova led the head-to-head 3-2, but this time Svitolina was determined to change that. But the Russian player had the better start into the match, even though the 26th seed had more break points in the first set.

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Svitolina had chances to break in the first and eleventh game, but she couldn't use any of her opportunities. On the other hand, Pavlyuchenkova used one of the three break points in the twelve game, and since all were also set points, converting one meant winning the first set, 7-5.

But the Ukrainian was determined to fight back in the second set, and she did. Both players had their chances, but ultimately, Svitolina played the crucial rallies better to win the second set 6-4 and take the match into the decider.

In the third set, Svitolina jumped into a quick lead, after breaking her opponent's service two times. The Ukrainian led 4-0, but Pavlyuchenkova never gave up, recovering one of the breaks. Yet, that wasn't enough as Svitolina won the match 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the third round of the 2023 US Open, awaiting the winner of the match between the third-seeded Jessica Pegula and Patricia Maria Tig.

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