In a result that sent shockwaves through the Australian Open, No. 12 seed Elina Svitolina delivered a ruthless 6-1, 6-2 demolition of Coco Gauff to reach her maiden semi-final at Melbourne Park. On a day where the mercury hit a blistering 44°C, it was the Ukrainian who kept her cool, dismantling the world No. 3 in a mere 59 minutes.
The defeat was a humbling experience for Gauff, whose game completely unravelled under the closed roof of Rod Laver Arena. While Gauff retreated backstage to vent her frustration; reportedly smashing multiple rackets to pieces, Svitolina celebrated a milestone victory that guarantees her return to the WTA Top 10 for the first time since 2021.
The scoreline didn't lie; the gap between the two players was cavernous. Gauff, usually the most athletic retriever on tour, appeared physically stuck, unable to find her rhythm as her remodelled service motion collapsed.
Svitolina’s victory is yet another data point in the ongoing dominance of players from Central and Eastern Europe. As of the current WTA Top 100 rankings, the geographic shift in women’s tennis is undeniable:
Eastern European powerhouse: Approximately 38% of the players in the WTA Top 100 hail from Eastern European nations (including Ukraine, Czechia, Poland, Belarus, and Russia).
The motherhood momentum: Svitolina joins a select group of "Tour Moms", including Belinda Bencic and Naomi Osaka, who have successfully re-entered the Top 20 after maternity leave.
A "World No. 1" duel: Svitolina’s next opponent is world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who extended her own dominant run earlier in the day by defeating teenager Iva Jovic 6-3, 6-0.
Following her win, an ecstatic Svitolina reflected on her journey back to the elite tier of the sport after the birth of her daughter, Skai.
It’s always been my dream to come back after maternity leave and get back into the top 10. I told my coach in the off-season this was the goal. To do it here means the world to me
Elina Svitolina
For Gauff, the loss marks a second consecutive year hitting a wall in the quarter-finals. Despite her speed and heart, her tally of 26 unforced errors against just 3 winners proved insurmountable.
