Svitolina thrashes struggling Halep to retain Rome title

Published by AAP / Tennismash

Elina Svitolina also retained her Dubai title earlier this year; Getty Images
Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina retains her Rome title with a one-sided victory against world No.1 Simona Halep.

Elina Svitolina retained her Internazionali BNL d’Italia title with a dominant display against an out-of-sorts Simona Halep in Rome on Sunday.

The Ukrainian world No.4 collected her third title of 2018 with a 6-0 6-4 victory in 67 minutes with a commanding performance against a dismayed Halep.

Looking ahead to next week’s French Open, Svitolina told WTA Insider: “It’s a new challenge. It’s going to be very different.

“I’m going to just try and take it one match at a time. It’s very important because there’s a lot of pressure and things going on.

“So for me, the priority is to be physically ready, and then I will go on the court, enjoy and do my best.”

Sunday’s contest in Rome was a rematch of the 2017 final where Svitolina lost the first set but stormed back for a 4-6 7-5 6-1 victory, but this year’s edition was very one-sided.

“I think I was a little bit tight and the muscles were a little bit stiff,” said Halep.

“I couldn’t run. Because I knew that I have to run in this match. I didn’t start well. Maybe I was rushing a little bit. She didn’t miss. I missed in the first set.”

Svitolina, who lifted titles in Dubai and Brisbane earlier this year, raced ahead collecting 16 of the first 22 points for a 4-0 head start against the world No.1.

Halep’s confidence was shot and her ground strokes were flat as Svitolina wrapped up a whitewash first set in 19 minutes.

A shaky performance on serve was enough to see Halep claim the opening game of the second set as the 26-year-old Romanian looked to recover from her poor start.

She complained of some discomfort as she called for the physiotherapist and opted for a medical timeout.

Her mood and movement improved slightly after she returned but there were no signs of a drastic turnaround as Svitolina reclaimed her Italian Open crown.

One consolation for Halep is that she will enter the French Open next week with her number one ranking intact as she prepares to mount a challenge for a maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.

“I think that tennis, women’s tennis, has changed, and every tournament is open,” added the Romanian. “And everyone has a chance to win, even a Grand Slam.”

 

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