Svitolina wins 2nd Strasbourg title

Final day in Strasbourg.

2023 Internationaux de Strasbourg, a WTA 250 tournament, on Clay, in Strasbourg, France, 21-27 May 2023.

2022 champion (not defending):

Wildcard Angelique Kerber (2) who defeated Kaja Juvan 7-6(5) 6-7(0) 7-6(5)

Final:

Anna Blinkova (Russia) v wildcard Elina Svitolina (Ukraine)

This was the first meeting between the players.

Svitolina was out of the blocks in a hurry, breaking in the first two Blinkova service games and leading 3-0.

Blinkova retrieved one of the breaks immediately, but her serve failed again at 2-4, leaving Svitolina to serve for set.

Blinkova saved two set points, but not a third, and Svitolina led 6-2.

Set two began with Svitolina taking advantage of the third of three break chances to lead 1-0.

Then, in the longest game of the match - including 11 deuces - Svitolina saved three break points before holding for 2-0.

Then four successive breaks of serve, leaving Svitolina ahead 4-2.

Serving at 3-5 to stay alive in the match, Blinkova saved three match points.

Svitolina won it on the fourth 6-2 6-3.

This was the first tournament victory for Elina Svitolina as a mum, her second Strasbourg title, and 17th overall.

She was ranked #508 coming into the tournament, only recently returned to the tour because of the pregnancy and birth of her child, making her the fourth lowest ranked player ever to win a WTA title.

Her ranking now will be #191.