Third seed Elina Svitolina overcame a major mid-match slump to beat Renata Zarazua 6-3 0-6 6-2 in the second round of Roland Garros on Wednesday.
Enjoying her highest seeding at a major, Svitolina confidently opened the match with a 4-0 lead and it looked like the big occasion would overwhelm Mexican qualifier Zarazua, who had earned her first main-draw Grand Slam win in the previous round, playing in the main draw of a Grand Slam as just the fourth woman from her country in the Open Era. The world No.178 Zarazua was determined to put on a big fight though, and won three consecutive games, but in the end Svitolina claimed the first set.
Svitolina’s concentration slipped in the second set and Zarazua stormed through it in just 27 minutes, winning 16 of 17 points during one stretch midway through the set.
The decider featured an exchange of breaks early on, but then Svitolina regrouped and raced away with the rest of the set, converting 3/3 break points to advance to the third round.
Before the coronavirus hiatus, in February, Zarazua reached the Abierto Mexicano TelCel semifinals, becoming the first Mexican woman to play a WTA semifinal since 1993. That run propelled her into the Top 200 and she now sits at a career-high ranking which will be further improved after Roland Garros.
She doesnt scream quality top players. Consistent enough to stay in top 10, not powerful enough to win a slam.
On top of that is that a new dress from Svitolina?
Ian, it is not a new dress. It is that bodysuit that Sabalenka has been wearing and the Nike Fall NY Slam Skirt.
Good on Zarazua for not giving up after the first set. Good to see a Mexican woman doing well.