Google News 2020 Roland Garros: Nadia Podoroska ousts Elina Svitolina; enters SF, history books
by ABBEY JOHNSON
Twenty-three-year-old qualifier Nadia Podoroska reached her first Major semi-final at 2020 Roland Garros. The Argentinian knocked out the highest-remaining seed in the draw – the third-seeded Elina Svitolina, in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 in an hour and 19 minutes.
The match ended the same way as it had begun – with a break of serve. However, between Podoroska’s serve getting broken in the first game and Svitolina’s getting broken for the Argentine’s win, the match featured some interesting moments, most of which came by way of the unseeded player.
The world no. 131, despite falling down an early break, brushed aside the dirt – pun intended – to showcase a proactive game even as she forced Svitolina to hunt down her returns. Mixing her shots well, not only did Podoroska hit winners from the baseline – most of which landing either precisely on the lines or well inside – but she was also quick to move into the court to sneak in drop shots and passing shots off her opponent.
The only time Podoroska’s drop shots failed to get her points was in the final game of the second set when Svitolina managed to get to three of her drop shots and put in the ball back into play. Podoroska’s command over the proceedings could also be seen from the statistic that the Ukrainian won only one service game throughout the course of the match.
She was broken four times in the first set alone, and both of the games she won were service breaks – apart from the first game, she won the seventh game when Podoroska tried to serve the set out. In the second set, Svitolina’s only service hold came in the second game of the set.
The second set featured six back-to-back breaks of serve, beginning in the third game. The chain of service breaks was finally broken when Podoroska held to go up 5-4. In the 10th game, trying to stay in the match, Svitolina saved a match point at 30-40, and then the second, a couple of points later.
She was, however, unable to save the third as Podoroska struck one last winner to end it all.
2020 Roland Garros: Danielle Collins completes a delayed QF line-up
Podoroska hit 30 winners and 30 unforced errors while Svitolina could manage just eight winners and 22 unforced errors.
She is the first Argentine woman in nearly 16 years to reach the penultimate round of the French Open since Paola Suarez did so in 2004. Podoroska is also the first qualifier to reach the French Open semi-finals, and the only third qualifier to reach a Major semi-final after Christine Dorey and Alexandra Stevenson.
Dorey reached the semi-finals of the 1978 Australian Open while Stevenson did so at Wimbledon in 1999. The United States’ Danielle Collins won the last remaining fourth round at 2020 Roland Garros that had to be postponed to Tuesday due to rain.
Collins upset the 30th-seeded Ons Jabeur 6-1, 6-4 to reach her first French Open quarter-finals. Collins will play fourth seed Sofia Kenin for a semi-final spot. Photo Credit: Roland Garros Twitter