Elina Svitolina ends title drought after winning Rouen Open

Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina secured her first title in two years after beating Olga Danilovic in the final of the Rouen Open. The 30-year-old lifted the title after winning the contest in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 7-6.

During the contest, Svitolina won 62.7 percent of the service points, slightly better than her opponent who managed to win 54.8 percent of the points while serving. She converted three break points. In comparison, Danilovic won two break points.

The competition is an important one for Svitolina, who has found it hard to secure success on the court this year. She started the season, after a lengthy break which started right after the US Open last year because of a fitness concern, at the Australian Open, where her journey ended in the quarterfinal after losing to eventual winner Madison Keys with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

After that, Svitolina played in the Linz Open, where she lost in the round of 16 while playing against Anna Blinkova with a score of 6-4, 6-4. Her next outing was at the Qatar Open, where she was knocked out after losing in the round of 32 to America’s Jessica Pegula in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 7-6.

Following that debacle, Svitolina featured in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship, but her journey was cut short as she lost in the round of 32 to Denmark’s Clara Tauson with a score of 7-6, 3-6, 7-6. At the Indian Wells, Svitolina had a good run, but it was halted by Russia’s young tennis sensation Mirra Andreeva at the quarterfinals stage, who came out on top in straight sets with a score of 7-5, 6-3. Before coming to Rouen, Svitolina’s last appearance was at the Miami Open, where she was knocked out after losing in the round of 16 to reigning world number two Iga Swiatek, who ended up winning the contest in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 6-3.