Elina Svitolina secured a comeback victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova to reach the semifinals of the National Bank Open in Toronto, extending her unbeaten streak in WTA 1000 matches to 10. The Ukrainian overcame a slow start in the quarterfinal clash, dropping the first set before dominating the remainder of the match to set up a semifinal meeting with seventh seed Iga Swiatek.
How Svitolina Overcame Alexandrova in Toronto
According to match reports, Alexandrova utilized an aggressive baseline game that previously helped her defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. That strategy paid off early as she took the opening set 6-3. Svitolina struggled initially, committing three double faults and converting only 58% of her first serves, as reported by Suspilne Sport and cited by United24 Media.
The momentum shifted entirely in the second set. Svitolina adjusted her tactics by focusing on her own execution and capitalizing on shorter second serves. She won 11 of the next 12 games, blanking Alexandrova 6-0 in the second set and building a 5-1 lead in the decider. Despite a brief rally from Alexandrova that narrowed the gap to 5-3, Svitolina broke in the ninth game to seal a 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 victory in one hour and 33 minutes, according to the WTA tour recap.
Pro Tip: Turning around a match after dropping the first set requires tactical patience and higher first-serve efficiency. Svitolina exploited her opponent’s second serves to swing the momentum back to her baseline game.
Key Statistical Milestones from Svitolina’s Run
The quarterfinal win adds several notable figures to Svitolina’s 2026 season stats. With six wins in Rome and four in Toronto, she sits on a 10-match winning streak at WTA 1000 events. She also advanced to her fourth WTA 1000 semifinal of the season—the most of any player on tour in 2026—and the 16th of her career.
Additionally, Svitolina improved her three-set record this year to 14-2, tying Jessica Pegula for the second-most three-set wins on tour, just behind Coco Gauff’s 15. The victory also marked her 25th WTA-level hard-court win of 2026, tying Aryna Sabalenka for the tour lead in that category, and her seventh WTA semifinal overall this year, according to Suspilne Sport.
Did you know? All seven previous head-to-head matches between Elina Svitolina and Iga Swiatek have taken place at either WTA 1000 events or Grand Slams.
Head-to-Head Preview: Svitolina vs. Swiatek
In the semifinals, Svitolina will face No. 7 seed Iga Swiatek, who advanced by defeating Diana Shnaider in straight sets. Swiatek holds a 4-3 edge in their career head-to-head series, but Svitolina has claimed both of their meetings in 2026—at Indian Wells and Rome—with both of those prior matches extending to three sets.
“We played many times, practiced many times as well, so we know each other’s game,” Svitolina told the media after her quarterfinal win. “For me it will be important to stay physical. It’s going to be lots of long rallies.” Both players share extensive familiarity from competing at the highest levels of women’s tennis, setting the stage for another tactical battle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did Elina Svitolina defeat to reach the Toronto Open semifinals?
Svitolina defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 in the quarterfinals.
What is Elina Svitolina’s record against Iga Swiatek in 2026?
Svitolina has won both of her matches against Swiatek this year, securing victories at both Indian Wells and Rome.
How many WTA 1000 matches has Svitolina won?
Svitolina’s win over Alexandrova extended her unbeaten streak in WTA 1000 matches to 10, combining her run in Toronto with her title run in Rome.
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