Svitolina serves her way past Keys into quarter-finals
Sep 1, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Elina Svitolina of Ukraine hits to Madison Keys of the United States in the fourth round on day seven of the 2019 US Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ukrainian fifth seed Elina Svitolina delivered a solid serving performance to beat American Madison Keys 7-5 6-4 on Sunday and secure a spot in the U.S. Open quarter-finals.
With Keys, who finished runnerup in 2017, struggling with her backhand, Svitolina won 92 percent of her first serve points and did not face a single break point during the 75-minute clash under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights.
Sep 1, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Madison Keys of the United States hits to Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the fourth round on day seven of the 2019 US Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
"Very pleased that I could play very consistent tonight and in such a great atmosphere is very special," said Svitolina, who capped the match in style when she served out to love.
With the win, Svitolina is the first Ukrainian woman to reach the U.S. Open quarter-finals since Kateryna Bondarenko in 2009.
Up next for Svitolina will be Briton Johanna Konta, who upset Czech third seed Karolina Pliskova earlier on Sunday.
Sep 1, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Elina Svitolina of Ukraine hits to Madison Keys of the United States in the fourth round on day seven of the 2019 US Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
(Reporting by Frank Pingue; Editing by Ian Ransom)
Sep 1, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Madison Keys of the United States hits to Elina Svitolina of Ukraine (not pictured) in a fourth round match on day seven of the 2019 US Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY SportsSep 1, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Elina Svitolina of Ukraine hits to Madison Keys of the United States (not pictured) in a fourth round match on day seven of the 2019 US Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY SportsSep 1, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Madison Keys of the United States hits to Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the fourth round on day seven of the 2019 US Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY SportsSep 1, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, left, and Madison Keys of the United States shake hands after their fourth-round match on day seven of the 2019 US Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY SportsSep 1, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Elina Svitolina of Ukraine defeats Madison Keys of the United States in the fourth round on day seven of the 2019 US Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
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