Svitolina saves seven match points in stunning comeback to beat Valentova in Cincinnati

Elina Svitolina saved seven match points, including one with Tereza Valentova serving for it at 6-5 in the second set, before completing a 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-0 comeback in the last match of the Cincinnati night session.

17 August 2026

Elina Svitolina, Cincinnati 2026 | © Cincinnati Open

Tennis Majors

Cincinnati Open •Second round • Completed

See draw

T. ValentovavsE. Svitolina

Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, the No. 8 seed, beat Czech Tereza Valentova 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-0 to reach the third round of the Cincinnati Open, closing out the last match of the day and the last of the second round late on Monday night in one of the most dramatic comebacks of the tournament so far.

Svitolina, ranked No. 9, will next face Chinese qualifier Xiyu Wang.

Valentova held five match points serving at 5-4 in the second set, and Svitolina saved every one of them. Two games later, serving to close it out again at 6-5, Valentova produced two more match points, which Svitolina also saved, before the set went to a tiebreak that Svitolina won 7-5, being lead 2-5. She then swept the third set 6-0 without dropping a game.

The turnaround was made more striking by the fact that Svitolina appeared to be managing discomfort in the same foot on which she had surgery in 2024, though there was no immediate word on the severity of the issue.

You really kept pushing for me and I really felt it. I kept fighting and got rewarded for that.

Speaking afterward, Svitolina credited the crowd for helping carry her through the low points of the match. “It was not an easy night for me, but it ended up good, I’m very happy,” she said. “Thank you so much for cheering for me even when I was match points down. You really kept pushing for me and I really felt it. I kept fighting and got rewarded for that.”

Asked about a visit to her box during the deciding stretch, she explained the message that turned the match. “You walked over to Gael and to Andrew, what did they say to you? After you talked to them you won the next six games,” it was put to her. “They told me just to keep fighting,” she said. “They were very surprised in the way that I won that second set. It’s really special for me to have my team supporting me in good moments but also tough moments when it matters most.”

Cincinnati WTA 1000, 2nd Round

A. Sabalenka (1) d. T. Gibson: 6-2, 7-6(2)
X. Wang d. D. Vekic (31): 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
S. Bejlek d. B. Krejcikova (23): 7-6(5), 6-4
E. Alexandrova (16) d. A. Blinkova: 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-5
K. Siniakova (33) d. J. Bouzas Maneiro: 7-6(5), 6-1, 6-1
M. Keys (20) d. D. Snigur: 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
X. Wang d. L. Fernandez (30): 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
E. Svitolina (8) d. T. Valentova: 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-0
C. Gauff (4) d. L. Samsonova: 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
A. Li (28) d. S. Zhang: 7-5, 6-3
M. Bouzkova (22) d. L. Stefanini: 6-2, 6-4
I. Jovic (13) d. T. Korpatsch: 6-4, 6-3
M. Kostyuk (10) d. S. Kenin: 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
S. Stephens d. A. Potapova (24): 6-2, 6-4
J. Tjen (32) d. V. Golubic: 7-6(8), 5-7, 7-5
M. Andreeva (5) d. O. Oliynykova: 6-1, 6-0
L. Noskova (6) d. K. Boulter: 6-3, 6-3
C. Tauson (27) d. P. Stearns: 7-6(7), 1-6, 7-5
A. Eala (17) d. E. Ruse: 6-1, 3-0 RET
A. Anisimova (9) d. Z. Sonmez: 6-2, 6-3
S. Cirstea (15) d. N. Bartunkova: 7-6(5), 6-3
A. Kalinskaya (18) d. C. McNally: 6-3, 6-4
E. Navarro (25) d. A. Kalinina: 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
J. Pegula (3) d. S. Waltert: 6-3, 6-2
I. Swiatek (7) d. E. Arango: 6-3, 6-0
M. Sakkari (29) d. K. Rakhimova: 6-2, 5-7, 6-1
D. Parry d. E. Mertens (21): 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
L. Boisson d. B. Bencic (12): 6-3, 0-0 RET
D. Shnaider (14) d. T. Maria: 6-2, 7-5
M. Chwalinska (19) d. C. Bucsa: 6-2, 6-2
M. Frech d. J. Ostapenko (26): 6-1, 6-3