Elina Svitolina ends 15-year-old Marta Kostyuk’s dream Australian Open run in third round
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Updated 19/01/2018 at 07:11 GMT
Fourth seed Elina Svitolina ended 15-year-old Marta Kostyuk’s Australian Open run with a 6-2 6-2 victory to reach the fourth round for the first time in Melbourne.
Marta Kostyuk (L) of Ukraine congratulates Elina Svitolina of Ukraine after Svitolina won their third round match on day five of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19
Image credit: Getty Images
Svitolina proved too strong against fellow Ukrainian Kostyuk, who became the youngest player to win an Australian Open match in 22 years when she beat Peng Shuai in the first round.
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Highlights: Svitolina outclasses plucky Kostyuk
Kostyuk, who took home the junior Australian Open title last year, went on to beat Olivia Rogowska in the second round, but came unstuck against Svitolina on Friday.
The older player was quick to pay tribute to her compatriot, saying: "She's a great fighter, she fought right until the end, and she has a great future and we're gonna hear a lot more about her," said Svitolina.
"It's very special to me, I always love coming to Australia but I never got beyond the third round," she added.
"It was sad that I was playing a Ukrainian girl, it's always difficult playing someone from your own country, but I'm happy that I'm still alive in this tournament."
Svitolina was one of the pre-tournament favourites after winning five tour titles last year and the Brisbane International warm-up to start this campaign.
One of five players who have a chance to finish the Australian Open as world number one, she is now the only seed left in her section of the draw.
"It's tough to be seeded because everyone plays pretty freely against you and you have to be ready for tough matches from the start of the tournament," she said.
"It's tough but I always try and stay positive and take each match as it comes."
The 23-year-old, who is the last remaining seed in her quarter of the draw, faces DenisaAllertova in the fourth round after the Czech beat MagdaLinette 6-1 6-4.
Elsewhere, Belgian EliseMertens fought off AlizeCornet with a 7-5 6-4 victory, and she will now face PetraMartic for a place in the last eight.
World number 81 Martic prevailed 6-3 3-6 7-5 in an enthralling encounter against Thailand’s LuksikaKumkhum.
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