Elina Svitolina added to her perfect beginning to her 2026 season Sunday, qualifying for the Australian Open quarters after defeating 18-year-old Russian teen Mirra Andreeva.
The 31-year-old Ukrainian veteran’s victory over 6-2, 6-4, by straight sets at Rod Laver Arena was over in just under an hour and a half.
This victory means Elina Svitolina is going to be the 4th time she makes the final eight in Melbourne, and the 14th time she will reach a Grand Slam quarter final.
She remains undefeated this year, riding on a wave of momentum helped to start with her title win in Auckland earlier this month.
Standing in her way next is American sensation Coco Gauff, who made her own quarterfinal booking earlier in the day.
How the Match Unfolded
Elina Svitolina wasted no time in taking over the stage and did it with immediate effect by exerting pressure on Mirra Andreeva’s service games.
Her veteran experience showed throughout the first set, where she used a strong return game to make mistakes of the teenager to the point to take the opener 6-2.
The second set saw a quick pushback from Mirra Andreeva, who managed to get himself an early lead. However, Elina Svitolina recovered quickly and smashed back by winning three of the next four games to take control.
Sealed the victory with a sharp forehand winner on her second match point.
A major part of the outcome was Elina Svitolina’s aggressive approach to Mirra Andreeva’s second serve, as it kept the Russian teen from getting her rhythm or putting on any sustained offense.
A Clash of Generations
The matchup showed a significant difference in career stages. Svitolina at 31 years old brought years of resiliency on tour and mastery over defense to the court.
On the flip side of the net was No. 8 seed Andreeva who had just come off a title run in Adelaide, but ultimately was unable to break Svitolina’s tactical discipline.
While the teenager had occasional flashes of brilliance during the second set, Svitolina’s consistency was too much to overcome.
Svitolina will now aim to improve on her personal record at Melbourne Park as she has never been able to progress beyond the quarterfinal stage of this tournament.
It is her upcoming battle against Gauff that promises to be a highlight of the 2026 Australian Open.
Saurabh is a passionate tennis content writer and lifelong fan of the game. Whether it’s Grand Slam showdowns or under-the-radar rising stars, Saurabh brings the court to life with sharp analysis, breaking news, and deep-dive features. When they aren’t covering matches, you can find them practicing their topspin forehand or debating who is the GOAT over coffee. Do you enjoy tennis? Then you are in the right place.
