The strongest tennis player in Ukraine, Elina Svitolina (9th in the world), who reached the semifinals of the Australian Open-2026, is performing brilliantly at the prestigious WTA 1000 tournament in Indian Wells (USA) with a prize fund of 9 million 415 thousand dollars.
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In the quarterfinal match, the 31-year-old from Odessa sensationally defeated (after three consecutive losses in head-to-head matches) the second-ranked player in the world, the champion of these competitions in 2022 and 2024, 24-year-old Iga Świątek from Poland, in three sets — 6:2, 4:6, 6:4.
Her first appearance in the Indian Wells semifinals since 2019 brought Elina $340,190 in prize money and 390 rating points.
“My first semifinal here in seven years? These statistics make me feel old (laughs),” said Elina Svitolina . “Of course, I am very happy. Today was a very tough match. Iga always gives me extra fighting spirit. I had to put in a lot of effort to finish the match in my favor, and I am very happy with how I remained mentally strong in the deciding set.
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“Yes, Gael and our daughter Skye are already back home, so I managed to get some sleep (laughs). My husband is sleeping now, and he didn't really watch my match. He's really tired from the flight and the time zone change. He's a bit exhausted and the time he spent with our daughter, he told me about it this morning. So he's sleeping now.”
Svitolina will challenge for a place in the Indian Wells final in a duel with the world's No. 3, winner of the 2026 Australian Open, Yelena Rybakina from Kazakhstan, who defeated American Jessica Pegula (5th) in the quarterfinals – 6:1, 7:6 (4). The head-to-head score between the Ukrainian and the Moscow native is 3:3 (Elina, in particular, beat Rybakina in an incredible match for the “bronze” of the Tokyo Olympics).
We should add that on the way to the semifinals of Indian Wells, Svitolina also defeated German Laura Siegemund (55th) – 7:6 (5), 4:6, 6:3, American Ashley Kruger (82nd) – 6:4, 6:2, and Czech Kateryna Siniakova – 6:1, 1:1 (refusal).
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Previously, “FACTS” reported that Elina Svitolina became the champion of the tournament in Auckland.
Photo by Jimmie48