French Open 2023 results: Elina Svitolina beats Daria Kasatkina to reach quarter-finals
- By Jonathan Jurejko
- BBC Sport at Roland Garros
In the absence of a handshake, Russian participant Kasatkina gave a thumbs-up to Ukraine’s Svitolina on the finish of the match
| Dates: 28 May-11 June Venue: Roland Garros, Paris |
| Coverage: Live textual content and radio commentaries of chosen matches throughout BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, the BBC Sport web site and app |
Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina says she “feels 17 again” after reaching the French Open quarter-finals in her first Grand Slam since changing into a mom.
The former world quantity three beat Russian ninth seed Daria Kasatkina 6-4 7-6 (7-5) to reach the final eight.
“I don’t have the pressure I used to have,” Svitolina, a Wimbledon and US Open semi-finalist in 2019, mentioned.
“No-one expects that I’m going to come to Roland Garros and make the quarter-finals. I feel this really helps me.”
Svitolina had daughter Skai with French participant Gael Monfils in October and is enjoying in solely her sixth tour-level event since returning to tennis in April.
She is on an eight-match successful streak having claimed the title in Strasbourg within the build-up to Roland Garros.
The 28-year-old admitted she “didn’t dream” this state of affairs would occur when she was giving start lower than a yr in the past.
“Of course, personally I put kind of pressure on myself because I want to win a Grand Slam. This is the ultimate goal for me,” she mentioned.
“But definitely not the pressure from outside. I feel almost like I’m 17 again coming on the tour fresh. I’m not defending any [ranking] points.”
Svitolina, who’s chasing a primary Grand Slam title, will subsequent face Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka or American Sloane Stephens, who reached the 2018 remaining on the Paris clay.
The Ukrainian’s run additionally is available in her first look at a serious since Russia invaded her nation in February 2022.
Svitolina didn’t shake fingers with Kasatkina, however mentioned she acknowledged the 26-year-old Russian on the finish of the match as a result of she has been “brave” to criticise her nation’s actions.
Kasatkina gave Svitolina a thumbs-up on the finish of the match, with Svitolina saying of her opponent: “I’m really thankful for her position that she took. She’s really brave person to say it publicly, not so many players did.”
Having performed 4 Russian opponents since her comeback and never shaking fingers with any of them, Svitolina says “everything will be the same” if she performs Sabalenka.
Earlier on Sunday, Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, a runner-up on the 2021 French Open, fought again from a set down to beat Belgian 28th seed Elise Mertens 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.
Pavlyuchenkova, who has slipped to 333rd on the earth rankings after a knee damage stored her out for 5 months final yr, will play Karolina Muchova within the quarter-finals.
The Czech, who had by no means gone additional than the third spherical at Roland Garros, claimed a 6-4 6-3 victory over Russian fortunate loser Elina Avanesyan on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
