ITF Saint-Malo: Elina Svitolina edges out No. 4 seed in thriller battle for QF spot

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Elina Svitolina has defeated Ysaline Bonaventure to reach the ITF Saint-Malo quarterfinal and clinch her first back-to-back wins since returning to tennis. Svitolina, who accepted a main draw wildcard into Saint-Malo, defeated No 4 seed Bonaventure 2-6 6-4 7-6 (5).

In the first game of the match, Svitolina missed out on a break point. After saving an early break point, Bonaventure earned the first break of the match in the fourth game to open a 3-1 lead. In the eighth game - when Svitolina was serving to stay in the first set - Bonaventure broke the Ukrainian for the second time to seal the opener.

After losing the first set, Svitolina earned her first break of the match in the third game of the second set for a 2-1 lead. However, Svitolina's lead was short-lived as Bonaventure broke back immediately in the fourth game to tie the second set to two games apiece.

After blowing an early second-set break, Svitolina broke Bonaventure again in the seventh game and saved a break point in the eighth game to open a 5-3 lead. Svitolina missed out on a set point in the ninth game but realized her fourth set point in the 10th game to send the match into a decider.

Svitolina then won the third set to complete a comeback

After losing the second set, Bonaventure bounced back at the start of the third set as the Belgian took an early 3-0 lead. Down by an early break in the third set, Svitolina didn't panic as she responded by winning the next three games to tie the decider to three games apiece.

In the ninth game, Svitolina broke Bonaventure for a 5-4 lead but then failed to serve out for the match in the 10th game. In the 11th game, Svitolina broke Bonaventure for a 6-5 lead but then again didn't manage to serve out for the match.

After failing to serve out for the match twice, Svitolina was able to keep her focus as the Ukrainian took an early 3-0 lead in the tie-break before opening a 6-2 lead. Svitolina missed out on her first three match points but converted her fourth match point to complete a comeback win against Bonaventure.