Elina Svitolina suffers surprise loss after stunning third-set collapse

Elina Svitolina’s Strasbourg title protection got here to an finish early following a shock defeat to Clara Burel on Wednesday.

Svitolina, seeded at No. 7, exited Strasbourg within the round-of-16 after Forty third-ranked Burel handed the Ukrainian tennis star a 7-6 (1) 4-6 6-1 loss. 

For Svitolina, Strasbourg will ceaselessly be a particular place because it was the event the place she gained her first title as a mom 12 months in the past. Additionally, Svitolina gained Strasbourg in 2020 – and since this was her third look on the event since then – Svitolina returned to Strasbourg this yr using an eight-match profitable streak on the French clay occasion. 

Additionally, this was the primary time that Svitolina misplaced to Burel. Beforehand, Svitolina defeated Burel in 2021 Chicago and in addition beat the Frenchwoman en path to profitable Strasbourg final yr.

How Burel upset Svitolina within the Strasbourg round-of-16 and what occurred within the third set?

The primary seven video games of the primary set went comparatively calmly as not a single break level was seen. Then, Burel earned the primary break for a 5-3 however then did not serve out for the primary set within the ninth recreation.

After failing to serve out for the opener, Burel had her first set level on Svitolina’s serve within the tenth recreation however did not understand. Then, one other twist occurred as Svitolina broke Burel for a 6-5 lead but additionally did not handle to serve out for the primary set.

When the first-set tie-break began, Burel impressively gained the opening 5 factors earlier than realizing her second set level to clinch the opener.

Down by a set, Svitolina twice went up by a break within the second set however Burel twice got here again. However after 9 video games, Svitolina led 5-4 after which she earned a set level on Burel’s serve – which she realized to ship the match right into a decider.

After forcing a 3rd set, Svitolina began the third set by serving out her opening service recreation. Then, Svitolina suffered a surprising collapse and misplaced the subsequent six video games as Burel accomplished a three-set win over the defending Strasbourg champion.