Australian Open: Elina Svitolina Beats Giant-Killer Coco Gauff To Move Into Third Round | Tennis News
Elina Svitolina’s experience came to the fore on Thursday against teenage sensation Coco Gauff, as the world number five eyes a maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. The Ukrainian lifted in the pivotal moments of the free-wheeling contest to move into the third round, with a 6-4, 6-3 victory in one hour and 17 minutes at Rod Laver Arena. “It was a really high-level match and when I had chances to break I took it,” said Svitolina, who hit 19 winners and broke once in each set.
Svitolina’s precise hitting overcame the dangerous Gauff, who showed flashes of the form that fuelled her dazzling run last year at Melbourne Park, but she lacked the consistency of her hardened opponent.
The 16-year-old’s thunderous serve kept her in the hunt during a high-octane first set, but she eventually cracked against Svitolina’s unnerving accuracy.
Svitolina, watched by boyfriend Gael Monfils in the stands, withstood a barrage of heavy groundstrokes from the American to grind out the victory in straight sets.
