No. 4 Match of '23: Elina Svitolina gives "everything" to edge Azarenka at Wimbledon

World events do have a place in sports: Elina Svitolina made sure we knew that in 2023. Since Russia’s invasion of her home nation, Ukraine, she’s played every match with her compatriots in mind. None were bigger than her fourth-round contest with Victoria Azarenka, a native of Russian ally Belarus, on Wimbledon’s No. 1 Court. In 2022, Azarenka was banned from the tournament because of the war. This year Svitolina made no secret of the fact that she wished that ban hadn’t been lifted.

The two had faced off five times before, and Azarenka had won all five. Svitolina would do whatever she could to change that, but she started out trying to do too much. For an hour, Azarenka was the calmer, steadier, better player, and she built a 6-2, 2-0 lead. Svitolina could hear the cries of “Slava Ukraini” from the crowd, but couldn’t channel that positive energy into her tennis.

“When I was down, 0-2, I was really feeling bad because I didn’t show up for the match just to play like that,” Svitolina said. “I told myself…I have to give everything here.”

Svitolina has never been a slugger, but with new coach Ramon Sluiter, she has looked to force the issue more. With no more time to waste, she finally wrested the attack from Azarenka with her inside-out forehand. When Vika tried to reply in kind, she overhit. From 0-2 down in the second, Svitolina won nine of 11 games to lead 3-0 in the third.

But getting her first win over this opponent wasn’t going to be that easy. Now it was the Azarenka’s turn to rally, which she did with a pair of drop shots that died in the grass. From there, the two fought neck and neck to the finish line, and momentum shift back and forth with each full-blooded swing they took. It had to end in a super-tiebreaker.

Azarenka took a 7-4 lead, and Svitolina’s hopes appeared to dwindle once more. But again she rallied, and went up 8-7 on a crosscourt backhand pass that found the sideline. Down match point at 8-9, Azarenka rescued herself with her own line-clipping forehand, followed by a difficult smash. At 9-9, Svitolina coaxed a forehand drop shot just over the net to reach her first match point. It took her two hours and 46 minutes to get there, but she didn’t waste any time once she made it. Svitolina finished with an ace and a tumble to the grass.

When I was down, 0-2, I was really feeling bad because I didn’t show up for the match just to play like that. I told myself…I have to give everything here. —Elina Svitolina

Then she got up, and, as planned, didn’t shake hands with Azarenka. Unfortunately, Vika was booed by fans who didn’t understand the circumstances, and thought she was stalking off in a fit of defeated pique. In truth, she also threw everything she had into this match, and gave Svitolina a wave of acknowledgement when it was over.

“I know that a lot of people back home watching, supporting me,” Svitolina said. “I feel responsibility as well.”

“That’s why it means a lot to get these kinds of wins. In my own way, to bring this victory, small victory, to Ukraine.