Svitolina dismantles Andreeva to set up blockbuster Gauff quarterfinal
Elina Svitolina defeated Mirra Andreeva 6-2, 6-4 on Sunday night to advance to the Australian Open quarterfinals. The No 12 seed utilized her veteran poise to neutralize the 18-year-old No 8 seed, extending her perfect 2026 winning streak to nine matches.
Elina Svitolina, 2026 | © Photosport / PsNewz
Elina Svitolina defeated Mirra Andreeva 6-2, 6-4 to reach her 14th career Grand Slam quarterfinal, proving that experience remains a formidable weapon against the tour’s rising stars.
The 31-year-old Ukrainian was clinical from the opening point, dismantling the world No 8 in just 83 minutes to close the Rod Laver Arena night session. With this victory, Svitolina has now won 18 consecutive sets and remains unbeaten in 2026, marking her fourth appearance in the final eight in Melbourne.
Tactical Precision and Second Serve Dominance
The key to Svitolina’s 44th career top 10 victory lay in her aggressive return game. She ruthlessly attacked Andreeva’s second serve, winning 15 of 20 points (75%) in that category. This pressure prevented the 18-year-old Russian from establishing her usual rhythm.
“It was important for me to put pressure, because if I let her to take the advantage in the rally, she can strike the ball really well, and she knows how to win matches, to win tournaments,” Svitolina explained. She noted the difficulty of the matchup, adding, “For me it was important just to try to take the advantage first and try to find a way, because she’s a very tricky player. She mix up the pace, the length of the ball, so you have to adjust really quick.”
Despite a brief moment of tension in the second set where Andreeva began to find her range, Svitolina’s mental strength, aided by the courtside presence of her husband Gael Monfils, carried her through. “I think I played and executed the plan very well, so very pleased with the performance tonight,” Svitolina remarked.
The match ended without a handshake at the net, a pre-determined outcome as Svitolina continues her policy regarding Russian and Belarusian opponents, though both players remained professional throughout the contest.
A Massive Quarterfinal Challenge Against Gauff
By securing her spot in the last eight, Svitolina sets up a high-stakes quarterfinal against world No 3 Coco Gauff. The American has a history of ending Svitolina’s deep runs, most notably in their recent three-set battle at the 2024 US Open. However, with Svitolina playing what many observers call the “fiercest” tennis of her career, the Ukrainian is optimistic: “Yeah, it feels great. Yeah, another chance to get to play maybe in semifinal, but very happy with the match.”
Svitolina joins an elite list of active players – Serena Williams, Simona Halep, and Aryna Sabalenka – as one of the few to reach 14 or more major quarterfinals since 2012. As she prepares to face Gauff, she will need to maintain the same “split-second decision” making that neutralized Andreeva. For the 31-year-old native of Odesa, the dream of a maiden Grand Slam title remains firmly alive in the Melbourne night.
