Elina Svitolina`s perfect record on clay courts continues in 2025; she hasn`t lost a single set on the surface this year.
The Ukrainian world No. 17 maintained her excellent form on clay, defeating Kazakhstan`s Elena Rybakina (the No. 10 seed) 6-3, 6-4 in a commanding performance at the Mutua Madrid Open on Sunday night.
The match lasted 1 hour and 24 minutes. This third-round victory eliminated Rybakina, who was a semifinalist in Madrid last year. The win also brings Svitolina`s career head-to-head record against Rybakina to an even 3-3, giving her a 2-1 lead on clay.
Key statistics from the match:
1: This marks Svitolina`s first appearance in the Round of 16 at the Madrid Open. Despite her strong history on clay, which includes consecutive Rome WTA 1000 titles in 2017 and 2018, her previous record in Madrid was a modest 5-9. She had lost five consecutive matches at the tournament before securing her two wins this year.
9: Svitolina`s flawless 9-0 start to the 2025 clay season seems to be changing her fortunes in Madrid. She started the clay swing by winning two Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier matches, followed by claiming the title in Rouen last week. This was her seventh career clay-court title and 18th WTA title overall, marking her first title win in almost two years since winning in Strasbourg in 2023.
With the BJK Cup matches included, Svitolina has now won nine consecutive matches, her longest winning streak on any surface since stringing together nine wins between Chicago and the US Open in 2021.
2: Svitolina faced her first and only break points of the match in a key game at 6-3, 4-3, when Rybakina hit two powerful forehands. Svitolina remained calm and saved both opportunities, first with a solid rally backhand and then with an unreturnable serve. She served well under pressure to close out the game and ultimately won the match without dropping her serve.
48: While Rybakina hit significantly more winners (24 compared to Svitolina`s 10), she also made a high number of unforced errors, totaling 48 – precisely double her winner count.
1-6: Following Sunday`s match, Rybakina`s record against Top 20 players in 2025 is now 1-6. Her single victory against a Top 20 opponent this year was against Paula Badosa in Dubai. Rybakina`s current rank is World No. 11, marking her first week outside the Top 10 since January 2023.
3: The Madrid Open has been particularly successful for Ukrainian players this year, with three reaching the Round of 16. Svitolina joins fellow Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk (No. 24 seed) and qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva in advancing to the second week of the tournament.
2-2: In the next round, former World No. 3 Svitolina will play Greece`s Maria Sakkari, another player who has reached a career-high ranking of World No. 3. Sakkari advanced by defeating No. 6 seed Jasmine Paolini on Sunday. Their head-to-head record is tied at 2-2, and this upcoming match will be their first ever meeting on clay.
