Ash Barty Fights Back Against Elina Svitolina to Reach Stuttgart Open 2021 Final

World No.1 Ash Barty got past World No.5 Elina Svitolina in the semifinals of the WTA Stuttgart Open 2021. Svitolina came into the match conquering the defending champion Petra Kvitova, but lost out to Ash Barty in tough three sets.

Ash Barty celebrated her 25th birthday with a memorable victory and could treat herself tomorrow with the Stuttgart title.

Elina Svitolina one step ahead of Ash Barty in the first set

The first set was perfect for Svitolina with a high first-serve percentage. Barty barely was able to win on Svitolina’s point. Both the players until midway through the set both were a bit strong on their serve.

At 3-3, with Barty serving, Svitolina saw her first break points. She converted on her third attempt to break the Australian.

Serving well, Svitolina served out the set, winning it 6-4. Barty won in just six points of Svitolina’s serve.

Ash Barty’s comeback

The second set started off on a shaking note for Barty. But she saved her serve. Svitolina had cooled off thus gave Barty a way into the match. Capitalizing on Svitolina’s low form, Barty quickly took a 3-0 lead. That lead was maintained until 4-1.

But Svitolina regained her old prowess. Reacting to Barty’s ill decisions, Svitolina first broke to tone down the lead 4-3. Svitolina continued her comeback to win four games in a row from 4-1, and then served for the match. But as the match showed, the tide quickly changed towards the World No.1.

Trailing in Svitolina’s serve at 5-4, Barty took back the break to level the set and save the match.

The set later went on to the tiebreaker, where it was hard to separate the WTA stars. But Barty continued her comeback and clinched the set 7-6(5).

Dominant final set for Ash Barty

The third set saw Barty in the driving seat. Svitolina was hanging on in the match at 1-1. But constant pressure from Barty broke Svitolina’s long service game to lead 2-1. She broke Svitolina twice to win the final set in quick 34 mins.

Barty only gave away five points on her serve to complete her comeback. The Australian barely faced a threat on her serve in the final set. The final score of the match was 4-6, 7-6, 6-2. Barty advanced to the Stuttgart final.