Former world No. 3 delivers statement performance
Elina Svitolina produced one of the most dominant performances of the tournament on Day 10, dismantling third seed Coco Gauff in straight sets, 6–1, 6–2. The Ukrainian, once ranked as high as world No. 3, delivered a composed and ruthless display against an opponent ten years her junior and currently positioned among the elite of the WTA Tour.
The result underlined Svitolina’s growing momentum as she continues her steady return toward the top level following her comeback in 2023.
Momentum built over weeks, not moments
Svitolina arrived in Melbourne carrying an impressive run of form, extending her winning streak to 11 consecutive matches prior to facing Gauff. Her Australian swing began emphatically in Auckland, where she defeated Xinyu Wang in two sets.
Across this 12-match unbeaten stretch, Svitolina has dropped just one set, conceding it during her Auckland quarterfinal encounter with Sonay Kartal. The consistency of her results has reflected both physical readiness and renewed confidence.
One-way traffic in the opening set
The opening set offered an early glimpse of how the match would unfold. Svitolina secured an immediate break to move ahead 1–0, before Gauff briefly responded with a re-break to level at 1–1.
From that moment on, the balance shifted entirely. Svitolina broke serve in every subsequent Gauff service game, while protecting her own delivery with authority, racing through the set 6–1 with minimal resistance.
Control maintained as Gauff struggles to respond
The second set proved even more decisive. Gauff was unable to generate a single break opportunity, as Svitolina continued to dictate play from the baseline. Two further breaks were enough to close the match 6–2, completing a comprehensive victory.
The Ukrainian’s ability to apply constant pressure left Gauff without the space or rhythm required to reset the contest.
As the women’s draw continues to narrow, Svitolina’s performance stands out as a clear signal of intent, with further challenges ahead outlined in our Australian Open 2026: Day 10 Preview.
By Hameltion – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=135537056
By All-Pro Reels – https://www.flickr.com/photos/joeglo/52390109632/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=135952099