Any season, any circumstances, Elina Svitolina is a player who can turn it on at any moment on the big stage.
Prior to heading on to Centre Court, the Ukrainian taliswoman had reached a Grand Slam second week 17 times during her mightily impressive career. Make that 18.
The former world No.3's controlled aggression dominated proceedings 6-1, 7-6(4) over Ons Jabeur, runner-up in 2022 and 2023, on Saturday.
Just 12 months ago Svitolina reached the semi-finals at The All England Club and she’ll seek another deep run against Chinese youngster Wang Xinyu in the last 16.
“It’s not easy to play such a champion as Ons is. She had a great two finals here. Always very tricky to play her on the grass,” said Svitolina.
“It was really important to play one point at a time and focus. I played great tennis today and was happy with how I handled tough moments today.
“It was a really tight second set, I was really trying to stay focused. Of course, it’s a relief to win that tie-break, they are always a bit of a lottery and I feel like I won today.”
With Jabeur’s three major final appearances and Svitolina’s Grand Slam set of quarter-finals, this was always going to be a high-quality clash.
As usual, Jabeur was bringing the hot shots. The No.10 seed struck two flashy inside-out forehands and dinked a lob over Svitolina’s reach in the opening game.
However, Svitolina is so strong off both groundstroke wings, so effective with her movement and versatile serve. A blazing backhand down the line sent the Ukrainian 3-0 ahead.
In an acute angled backhand duel, Svitolina’s touch prevailed, as Jabeur’s last effort clipped the net cord and landed agonisingly wide of the tramline. It was the optimum example of the world No.21 remaining a shot, a step ahead throughout the textbook 26-minute opening set.
Jabeur built incrementally into the second set, serving first and managing to rise to the challenge as the front-runner. At 4-3 to Jabeur, Svitolina sprinted down a trademark drop shot from the Tunisian trailblazer and at full stretch pushed a forehand down the line and into the corner.
Having struck an ace to hold for 6-5, Jabeur went on all-out attack to force a decider. A set point sprung up, but the world No.10’s backhand sailed long.
Into the resulting tie-break and it was Svitolina, a 2019 and 2023 semi-finalist, whose more adventurous play was rewarded with another Grand Slam second week spot.
"For me it's important to be focused and to be really breaking down everything to small pieces and really take one match at a time, to focus on my health, to focus on the recovery that I have to do," added Svitolina.
"There have been some delays with the rain, so a little bit of change of schedule, but in the end I'm happy that I am feeling good on the court. My movement was really good, and I'm happy with that."
