LONDON: World number five Elina Svitolina was hugged in her Wimbledon opening on Wednesday because Ukraine sealed a 6-3 2-6 6-3 victory over Belgium Alison van Uytvanck who was not seeded.
The pair traded a break at the beginning of their second career meeting before Svitolina rose upwards after a tight game up 4-2, and the third seed raised a late fight to claim the first set.
Van Uyvanck aggressively mixed his shots, with drives that are rifled and drop fine, and take every opportunity to approach the net to solve Svitolina to lead 3-1 in the second set before setting the contest in a set.
The two players walked serving before 2019 Semi-finalist Svitolina, who won the couple’s last match in three sets at Wells India six years ago, rediscovered his rhythm in a supporting place to close victory.
In the second half, the 26-year-old faced the Polish Magda Linet which rallied from a set to defeat American teenagers who did not separate Amanda Anisimova 2-6 6-3 6-1.