Tennis news - Elina Svitolina sees off Madison Keys challenge to reach last eight

ByMichael Hincks

Updated 21/01/2019 at 06:44 GMT

Elina Svitolina reached the Australian Open quarter-finals for the second year in a row after a hard-fought three-set victory over Madison Keys.

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The sixth seed won a topsy-turvy tie 6-2 1-6 6-1 to reach the last eight, where she will face reigning US Open champion Naomi Osaka as she bids to make a Grand Slam semi for the first time.

Svitolina was looking to make it third time lucky against Keys, having last lost to the American at the same stage of the US Open two years ago.

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Svitolina fends off Keys fightback to progress

And the Ukrainian shot out of the blocks, breaking Keys’ opening two service games to race into a 4-0 lead.

Keys regained her composure, but Svitolina held serve to take the opening set 6-2.

It was then Keys’ turn to race ahead in the second set, the 23-year-old converting both break-point opportunities to move 5-0 ahead before sending the match to a decider two games later.

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A titanic third game of the final set saw Svotlina save five break points before eventually holding serve after the 11th deuce, and that inspired her towards breaking Keys in the next game.

With the wind in her sails, Svitolina motored on, breaking Keys once more before seeing it out on serve.

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