Elina Svitolina Shows Her Class on Paris Clay
If anyone still questioned Elina Svitolina's appetite for the big stage, they got their answer at Roland-Garros on May 25-26. Facing Turkey’s promising Zeynep Sönmez in the opening round, Svitolina left little room for surprises, playing with a cool head and a clinical game plan that paved her way straight into the next round of the French Open.
The opening moments saw Sönmez, the 22-year-old sophomore from Istanbul, eager and energetic across the court. She was chasing every ball, showing flashes of the flair that got her through the qualifiers. But as soon as Svitolina settled into her rhythm, the gulf in experience became obvious. The Ukrainian’s baseline consistency, coupled with her knack for mixing speeds and spins, kept Sönmez on the defensive from the get-go.
Breaking Down the Matchup
This match was all about pressure and poise. Svitolina, a three-time Roland-Garros quarterfinalist, has made a living out of taming younger, less experienced opponents. She didn’t need flashy winners to win points—just relentless depth and a refusal to miss under the big moments. Every time Sönmez tried to hit through her, Svitolina responded with another sharp-angled return and precise footwork. When the Turkish newcomer managed to create openings, Svitolina’s defense turned them into missed chances more than once.
One of the highlights came midway through the first set. Sönmez engineered a break point with a gutsy down-the-line forehand, only for Svitolina to calmly erase it with a clutch serve and a topspin-heavy rally that drew an error. Those small moments, the ones where nerves usually decide things for young players, swung heavily in Svitolina’s favor.
After finding her groove, Svitolina began to pull clear in the second set. Her signature move—redirecting pace and constructing points with trademark patience—frustrated Sönmez’s attempts to dictate. The Ukrainian’s serve, steady if not explosive, didn’t give Sönmez many free looks. In return games, Svitolina often stepped inside the baseline, taking time away and forcing rushed decisions from her opponent.
Sönmez did manage a couple of inspired holds and even delighted the crowd with a gorgeous drop shot late in the match, showing that her game has plenty of promise. Still, it was never enough to derail Svitolina’s charge. The match concluded in less than two hours, with Svitolina sealing her place in the next round without hesitation or drama.
For Svitolina, this performance is a strong statement after a season in which expectations have steadily climbed. She navigated a potentially tricky opener in style, mixing determination with discipline—a combination that’s made her a threat in Paris for years.
May, 26 2025