Wimbledon 2023: Elina Svitolina reaches third round as Karolina Muchova and Barbora Krejcikova crash out
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Updated 06/07/2023 at 19:13 GMT
A mouth-watering Wimbledon third round tie was confirmed on Thursday when Elina Svitolina and Sofia Kenin progressed. Svitolina took down 28th seed Elise Mertens in three, while qualifier and former Australian Open champion Kenin beat Wang Xinyu in straight sets. The two big names, both possessing glittering Grand Slam pedigree, will face off next for a place in the fourth round.
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A busy Day 4 at Wimbledon produced some major upsets as French Open finalist Karolina Muchova and 10th seed Barbora Krejcikova crashed out, while Elina Svitolina battled through.
Heavy rain over the last couple of days in London meant for a packed schedule when conditions finally improved on Thursday, with first and second-round matches being completed.
No. 16 seed Muchova, who was runner-up at Roland-Garros last month, fell to a shock 4-6 7-5 1-6 first-round defeat to Jule Niemeier.
The German, who reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon last year, also profited from an injury that Muchova picked up in the third set - although the Czech was trailing by a break at the time.
Niemeier will face Dalma Galfi next, who beat Linda Noskova in three sets.
Injury also affected Krejcikova, who was knocked out by teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva.
The 16-year-old qualifier was leading 6-3 4-0 when her high-ranked opponent retired due to a leg injury.
The world No. 102 becomes the third-youngest player of the Open Era to reach the third round of Wimbledon as a qualifier, after Kim Clijsters and Coco Gauff.
Svitolina motored into the third round with another impressive victory by earning a three-set victory over 28th seed Elise Mertens.
The Ukrainian, a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2019, earned a comprehensive 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 victory over Mertens in 83 minutes.
Svitolina will face Sofia Kenin next, the former Australian Open champion who came through qualifying to stun seventh seed Coco Gauff in the opening round before beating China’s Wang Xinyu.
The Ukrainian will also go into that match having taken down a big name, downing five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams in the first round before knocking out a seed in Mertens.
Svitolina only recently returned to tennis after taking maternity leave following the birth of her daughter in October 2022, but is looking to make a mark at the All England Club.
She hit her stride at 1-1 in the first set, winning five consecutive games to clinch the opener in just 23 minutes.
But Mertens fought back impressively to force a decider, racing into a 5-0 second-set lead before a hold apiece saw her draw level.
Svitolina managed to mentally reset after her collapse, opening the third with two holds and a break to take control before making it a double break at 5-1 with a fine forehand winner down the line and serving out in style with a love hold.
Kenin beat Xinyu 6-4 6-3 in 74 minutes to comfortably progress.
Elsewhere, seed No. 26 Anhelina Kalinina beat Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4 6-3 and Svitolina’s fellow Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko defeated Katerina Sinakova 6-4 6-1.
In the late game on Court No. 1 America's fourth seed Jessica Pegula breezed through her clash with Cristina Bucsa winning 6-1 6-4.
No. 20 seed Donna Vekic came from a set and a break down to beat Sloane Stephens 4-6 7-5 6-4 in a thrilling two-and-a-half hour contest.
Belinda Bencic similarly overcame Danielle Collins 3-6 6-4 7-6(2) and fifth seed Caroline Garcia also needed three to beat Leylah Fernandez 3-6 6-4 7-6(6).
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Stream daily highlights from Wimbledon at 10pm UK time, as well as the two singles finals live on July 15 and 16, on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com
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