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None of the five second-round matches played on Wednesday at the Citi DC Open needed a third set to determine the outcome. Former world no. 3 Elina Svitolina posted the lone upset winning 6-2, 6-2 against fifth seed Daria Kasatkina in an hour and 36 minutes.
Svitolina saved all 10 break points she faced and converted five of nine break points on Kasatkina’s serve. She won 68% of her first-serve points and 44% of her second serve points. Following this win, Svitolina’s record over Kasatkina’s become even more lopsided, with eight wins and zero losses.
After the win, the Ukrainian said, “I just try to fight each time I play Dasha. She's a tough opponent to face, and each time, I try to play just one extra ball over the net, to take and dictate the game. I'm really happy I won the match today”.
This week, Svitolina’s wins in the first two rounds have come against opponents whom she’s already faced, and defeated, this year at Wimbledon. In the first round, she came through against Victoria Azarenka. Now, for a chance to reach the semi-finals in Washington DC, Svitolina will play either top-seeded Jessica Pegula or Peyton Stearns.
Citi DC Open: Coco Gauff, Madison Keys hold the fort as home hopes
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff and Madison Keys picked up wins in their respective second-round derbies. Gauff, the third seed this week, got past 6-1, 6-4 against qualifier Hailey Baptiste.
The 2022 French Open finalist needed an hour and 17 minutes to secure the win. Gauff’s next opponent will be sixth seed Belinda Bencic. The Swiss sixth seed won 6-1, 6-4 against American Lauren Davis in an hour and 18 minutes.
The seventh-seeded Keys paused Jennifer Brady’s comeback story in the American capital with a 6-4, 6-0 win over her compatriot. Keys needed just 66 minutes to get the win. Keys won 67% of her first-serve points and 57% of her second-serve points.
She also won 62% of points on return on Brady’s second serve. Keys saved five of the seven break points she faced while converting six break points on the latter’s serve. Keys will play either fourth seed Maria Sakkari or Leylah Fernandez next.
Lastly, 2022 Citi DC Open winner and eighth seed, Liudmila Samsonova also took her place in the quarter-finals. Samsonova beat Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-3 in 59 minutes. Photo Credit: Citi DC Open Twitter