Svitolina battles wind and Boulter to reach Auckland quarterfinals
Elina Svitolina has advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTA tournament in Auckland after a hard-fought win. The top-seeded player defeated Britain’s Katie Boulter 7-5, 6-4 in tricky windy conditions. Both athletes battled through nine service breaks before Svitolina secured the victory on her third match point.
Svitolina began the match strongly, breaking Boulter twice to take the first set. The wind made serving difficult, but she held her nerve on key points. Boulter fought back in the second set, forcing long rallies and testing the Ukrainian’s resilience.
The second set saw three consecutive breaks before Svitolina finally closed it out. She later praised Boulter as a 'great fighter' and admitted she had prepared for a tough challenge. This win follows her earlier straight-sets victory over Varvara Gracheva, where she triumphed 6-3, 6-1. Svitolina had ended her 2025 season early in September, citing mental health reasons. After a break, she returned to competition in 2026 with renewed energy. She credited her refreshed mindset for her strong start to the year. Next, she will face Sonay Kartal in the quarterfinals. The Auckland event serves as a key warm-up for the Australian Open, which begins on January 18.
Svitolina’s victory sets up a quarterfinal clash with Kartal. The match tested her ability to handle difficult conditions and a determined opponent. Her performance suggests she is in strong form ahead of the season’s first Grand Slam.
