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Elina Svitolina missed out on a chance to clinch her biggest win since returning to tennis as the Ukrainian lost in Saint-Malo to Sloane Stephens despite having multiple set points in each of the two sets played. Stephens, seeded at No 1, edged out Svitolina in the Saint-Malo semifinal 7-5 7-6 (5).
Stephens started the match a bit better, breaking Svitolina in the third game for a 2-1 lead. Down by an early break, Svitolina responded by earning back-to-back breaks and winning the next four games to take a 5-2 lead.
Leading 5-3 and having a chance to serve out for the first set, Svitolina didn't manage to do so as Stephens got the break back and cut the deficit to 5-4. After failing to serve out for the first set, Svitolina also missed out on two set points in the 10th game of Stephens' serve.
Stephens then broke Svitolina in the 11th game for a 6-5 lead, before serving out for the first set in the following game.
Svitolina had multiple set points in the second set but Stephens saved them
After winning the last five games of the first set, Stephens also won the first two games of the second set.
In the second set, Svitolina was three times down by a break but every time managed to get the break back. Through the first eight games of the second set, Svitolina and Stephens were tied to four games apiece. Svitolina then served out the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead - that was her first lead in the second set.
In the 10th game - Svitolina had a set point on Stephens' serve - but failed to convert. Svitolina then saved two break points in the 11th game to open a 6-5 lead, before clinching three more set points on Stephens' serve in the 12th game.
Unfortunately for Svitolina, she again missed out on all of her set points as Stephens was able to force a tie-break. In the second-set tie-break, Stephens had a 6-3 lead and three consecutive match points. Svitolina saved the first two match points but couldn't save the third as Stephens managed to escape with a straight-set win.